The Biden administration has once again failed to protect working families in America by blocking the $24.6 billion Kroger-Albertsons merger. At the Federal Trade Commission’s insistence, judges in Oregon and Washington invoked purported competition concerns while ignoring the true problem—the dominance of retail behemoths Amazon and Walmart, who continue to put pressure on local economies and people.
Kroger’s dedication to its workers and consumers might have been reinforced by this transaction.Since 2003, Kroger has invested $5 billion in price reductions, $2.4 billion in salary raises, and $2.3 billion in philanthropic contributions, including providing food for families in need, since 2018. The government has jeopardized union employment and inexpensive grocery access, which are vital lifelines for countless families, by obstructing this agreement.
In the meantime, the economic situation is dire. In June 2022, inflation reached a peak of 9.1% under Biden. Housing affordability has fallen, food prices have skyrocketed, and over half of American renters now spend at least 30% of their income on housing. Every day, working families must face difficult decisions.
The irony is obvious: despite claiming to defend competition, Biden’s antitrust enforcers have given the market to monopolistic behemoths like Amazon and Walmart. This ruling speeds up job losses and closures rather than bolstering unionized, neighborhood-focused supermarket businesses, especially in areas like the Pacific Northwest.
Working families in America should have policies based on common sense rather than partisan beliefs. The potential to create a more robust and competitive grocery market that empowers employees, promotes local communities, and offers genuine benefits to customers has been lost by blocking this merger.
Portland’s Justin Hwang
Hwang is the Oregon Republican Party’s chairman.
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