East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, along with 36 Senate Republican colleagues, have called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a fair and unbiased review of recent oil and gas mergers. This call comes in response to Senate Democrats' requests for the FTC to investigate these mergers based on what the Republicans describe as "misleading and false allegations."

In a letter sent to the FTC, the Senate Republicans emphasized the importance of conducting merger reviews based on legal and economic standards that protect consumers. They stated, “As is the case with any merger review, including those in the industrial sector, mergers must be assessed under a fair and unbiased standard grounded in sound economics and law...” The Senators further urged the FTC to base their review on facts, economic realities, and precedent, rather than political motivations.

The Republican Senators highlighted their concerns about the potential politicization of the merger review process, stating, “The oil and gas industry (like any other industry) should not be subject to unfair investigations or heightened antitrust scrutiny in order to further a political agenda that seeks the end of fossil fuel production.” They emphasized the importance of the FTC exercising its authority in accordance with the rule of law and due process, free from partisan influence.

Senators Crapo and Risch were joined in their letter by a long list of Senate Republican colleagues, including Ted Cruz, Mitch McConnell, Lindsay Graham, and others, expressing their unified stance on the matter.

The full text of the letter can be accessed for further details.