Antitrust attorney Gregory Huffman says administration's position borne out of Great Depression post mortem
Last week's message from the Justice Department's antitrust chief Christine A. Varney regarding antitrust enforcement was

crystal clear: expect to see more Justice Department vigilance of big business, particularly in the areas of technology, energy, health care and telecommunications companies.
As reported by the New York Times and others: Ms. Varney blamed the Bush administration for antitrust policies that "lost sight of an ultimate goal of antitrust laws - the protection of consumer welfare" and "allowing all but the most bold and predatory conduct to go unpunished and undeterred."
Ms. Varney indicated that the administration is rejecting the impulse to go easy on antitrust enforcement during weak economic times. "We must change course and take a new tack," she said, adding, "Vigorous antitrust enforcement must play a significant role in the government's response to economic crises to ensure that markets remain competitive."
Antitrust attorney Gregory Huffman of Dallas' Thompson & Knight says the administration's position is likely borne out of history, particularly the government's soft-handed approach during that Great Depression that is widely believed to have prolonged that economic downturn.  "Some might argue right now that preserving jobs at large companies is more important than challenging the companies in court," Huffman says. "However, research shows that attempts in the 1930s to preserve employment by cutting back on antitrust enforcement actually extended the Great Depression by up to seven years." Huffman notes that Council of Economic Advisors chair Christina Romer and Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke are both students of New Deal policies. "Given their backgrounds and positions, the shift toward restored antitrust scrutiny was almost inevitable." To interview Mr. Huffman on antitrust matters, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.