GOP Lawmakers Raise Concerns About Transparency at FTC

摘要

Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), John Cornyn (R., Texas), Thorn Tillis (R., N.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R., Wyo.), and Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.) on July 30 asked recently installed Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan to explain recent actions taken by the agency and procedural changes she has implemented, which the Republican senators said raise "concerns about the level of openness and transparency at the FTC." In a letter that requested a response by Aug. 30, the senators asked Chair Khan to explain why she sought a vote on rescinding a previous policy statement on unfair methods of competition "without first providing notice and an opportunity for public comment" and whether it is "the agency's intent to discard the 'consumer welfare standard' that it previously used to guide antitrust enforcement cases." They also asked about a recent 3-2 party-line vote "to eliminate procedural rules related to its Section 18 ('Magnuson-Moss') rulemaking authority." Among other things, they asked, "Were these changes intended to make it easier for the FTC to institute new rulemaking proceedings, specifically in the area of consumer privacy?"