Wyden Statement on Majoras Recess Appointment
Senator Comments on Bush Administration’s
Recess Appointment of Deborah Majoras to be the Chair of the FTC
July 30, 2004
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released
the following statement today following the Bush Administration’s
recess appointment of Deborah Majoras to be the chair of the Federal
Trade Commission:
“The anti-consumer record of the Federal Trade Commission
on oil company mergers and other issues that are significant factors
in raising gasoline prices at the pump is a sorry one, and there
is no evidence that Ms. Majoras will change this course. I hope
I am wrong and that this un-democratic process for naming a new
chair won't result in consumers being hammered with high gas prices
again and again.”
Because Ms. Majoras failed to offer any concrete steps that she
would take to help consumers facing high gas prices, Wyden blocked
Commerce Committee action on her nomination on July 22nd. He also
announced that he would place a “hold” on Majoras’
nomination, effectively blocking the Senate from taking up her nomination.
Wyden has repeatedly called on the FTC in the current and previous
Administrations to take action to protect consumers from high gasoline
prices, despite providing Majoras with numerous opportunities to
say what she would do to protect consumers. Wyden received no indication
from Majoras that under her leadership the agency would take any
steps to end well-documented anti-competitive practices that drive
up gasoline prices nationwide and particularly in the Northwest.
Wyden has called for further hearings into the conclusions of a
recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that found
oil mergers approved by the FTC had increased gasoline prices by
as much as seven cents per gallon, and what Majoras would do as
FTC Chair to protect consumers from impacts of oil mergers the FTC
may consider in the future.
A number of consumer advocacy groups, including the Consumer Federation
of America, Consumers Union, the U.S Public Interest Research Group
and Common Cause, have sent letters to the Senate Commerce Committee,
raising serious concerns about Majoras’ nomination.
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