The FTC's 'Left-Wing' Label for the Chamber of Commerce Reveals Government Regulatory Overreach
Source: Jack Nicastro. "FTC calls Chamber of Commerce ‘left-wing’ for opposing onerous regulations." February 19, 2026. reason.com
The Gist
The author argues it's absurd for the FTC to call the Chamber of Commerce 'left-wing' just for fighting expensive new merger rules. This shows how government agencies now attack anyone who opposes their regulatory overreach, regardless of political party.
Conclusion
The FTC's labeling of the Chamber of Commerce as 'left-wing' for opposing burdensome regulations demonstrates how government agencies have abandoned free market principles and now attack businesses that resist costly regulatory overreach
Premises
- The FTC called the Chamber of Commerce a 'left-wing activist group' simply for opposing expensive merger notification requirements
- A federal judge ruled that the FTC's updated HSR form exceeded the agency's authority and failed to show benefits outweighing costs
- The new HSR form dramatically increased compliance burdens, raising filing time from 37 to 105 hours and adding $100-300 million in annual costs
- Survey evidence shows the updated form costs an additional $50,000-$150,000 per filing with minimal improvement to review processes
- The Trump administration has continued supporting these anti-business policies, with FTC Chair Ferguson appealing the court decision that struck down the rule
Assumptions
- Opposing burdensome business regulations is inherently pro-free market, not left-wing
- Government agencies should not exceed their statutory authority when imposing regulations
- Regulatory costs should be justified by demonstrable benefits
- Both major political parties have abandoned genuine free market principles