Today, Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist released the following statement on the Department of Justice’s announcement that it has filed a civil antitrust suit to block the proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile:

“The DOJ lawsuit constitutes another attempt by the Obama Administration to stifle economic growth through excessive government intervention and regulation.  The lawsuit hinders investment, technological advancement, and job creation, while simultaneously creating more uncertainty in the market.  This latest overreach continues the Obama Administration’s attempt to control private enterprise by executive fiat.  The Department’s suit stands to impose onerous mandates and a capricious regulatory regime on the merged company, lest the DOJ halt the merger altogether.

“Hypothetical claims by the Department of Justice that the merger will lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers completely ignore recent history.  The government’s own data show that over the past decade wireless bills were slashed in half, despite five major telecommunications mergers during that time. Today, 90 percent of Americans can choose between an average of 5 or more mobile voice carriers.  The market also shows substantial competition with smaller wireless carriers on the regional level.

“Instead of political posturing and overregulating, the federal government should focus on alleviating the regulatory burden that has stalled recovery and handcuffed entrepreneurship and job creation in the American economy.”

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