Senator Vance commends FTC Chair Khan for ‘Doing a Good Job’

In the current political climate where praise between Democrats and Republicans is scarce, Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, publicly commended Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, stating she is “doing a pretty good job,” as reported by The Hill.

During his appearance at Bloomberg’s “RemedyFest” technology forum, Vance expressed his support for Khan’s efforts in antitrust enforcement, particularly in relation to tech companies, a viewpoint that sets him apart from many of his Republican counterparts.

Vance emphasized the importance of building a competitive marketplace that fosters innovation, competition, and consumer choice, rather than solely focusing on pricing power within the market.

While advocating for antitrust reform, Vance also expressed concerns about ensuring that promoting competition does not lead to restrictions on the free exchange of ideas.

Contrary to the stance of many Republicans in the House, Vance’s positive comments about Khan stand out. The House Oversight Committee has been conducting an investigation into Khan for nearly a year, alleging abuse of power and violation of federal ethics laws in certain antitrust cases.

Khan has faced criticism for her promotion of “hipster antitrust,” which prioritizes factors like income inequality over traditional customer welfare.