Press Releases
LEE: Merger Should be Guided by What is Best for Consumers
May 11, 2011
Lee Backs Balanced Budget Proposal
May 10, 2011
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee spoke in support of a budget proposal that will balance the federal budget over 10 years, save Medicare, enact real tax reform, and put the country on fiscally sustainable path. Senators Jim DeMint (SC), Tom Coburn (OK), David Vitter (LA), Marco Rubio (FL), Richard Burr (NC), James Risch (ID), and Ron Johnson (WI) joined the measure, principally authored by Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. In support of the budget, Senator Lee released the following statement:
“The most important challenge we have as a country is getting our fiscal house in order and Senator Toomey has developed a responsible plan to address it,” said Senator Lee. “While the President has proposed a budget that never balances and creates deficits and debt as far as the eye can see, Senator Toomey’s proposal moves the country in a fiscally responsible direction, balances the budget over a reasonable amount of time, simplifies and reforms our complex tax code, and significantly reduces spending to a manageable percentage of GDP.
“This budget represents yet another set of good ideas from Senate Republicans while our friends across the aisle have still not offered a budget of their own, despite a legal requirement to submit one. I applaud Senator Toomey for his leadership and look forward to debating his and other budget plans.”
Lee Statement on President's Deficit Reduction Speech
Apr 13, 2011
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee responded to the President’s speech on deficit reduction:
“While it is encouraging the President has finally decided to participate in the deficit debate, it is disappointing that he has offered a so-called framework that ignores the destructive, burdensome long-term costs of entitlements and reversed his position on increasing taxes on the American people.
“What the President calls ‘savings’ won’t scratch the surface of our annual deficit and, without a plan to balance the budget, the President continues to increase the national debt to unfathomable and irresponsible levels, which threatens our future prosperity.
“His calls to reduce our most bloated entitlement programs by roughly $30 to $40 billion per year are woefully inadequate to address an annual deficit approaching $1.7 trillion. The President completely ignores Social Security’s contribution to the deficit in the coming years.
“Most disappointing is that the President no longer believes tax relief is important to protect our economic recovery. In December of last year, the President said extending the Bush-era tax cuts ‘will spur our private sector to create millions of new jobs, and add momentum that our economy badly needs.’
“Less than five months later, the President’s framework proposes historic tax increases on the very segment of our economy on which we are depending to create those new jobs.
“This is not just a political flip-flop. It’s a reversal that will create greater instability in our economy and threaten to turn around the small gains we’ve made in employment.
“Republicans in Congress have submitted dozens of ideas to reduce our deficit, balance our budget, restrain spending, and create jobs. Many of us stand willing to work with the President and together make the difficult choices to put the country on a fiscally responsible path.
“The President has proposed only symbolic spending ‘cuts’ and higher taxes for Americans. His speech today shows he is simply not serious about real deficit reduction.”
Lee Expresses Comments on DoJ Decision Regarding Google-ITA
Apr 8, 2011
Washington, DC – Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Antitrust Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, commented on the Department of Justice’s decision to impose stringent conditions on Google’s acquisition of ITA Software and reiterated his call for antitrust oversight of Google’s search-related businesses.
“Today’s announcement by the Department of Justice (DOJ) outlining rigorous conditions for Google’s proposed acquisition of ITA Software is an important step in applying antitrust laws to the company’s predominant position in the realm of Internet search,” said Senator Lee. “As the DOJ recognized, Google’s unique presence as an Internet gatekeeper raises serious concerns about activities that may limit competition, reduce consumer choice, and thwart innovation. Continued scrutiny is essential as Google extends its reach into a variety of vertical search markets and online services. As a member of the Antitrust Subcommittee, I will continue to work to ensure vibrant competition in this and other areas of our economy.”
On March 10, 2011, Senator Lee sent a letter to the Subcommittee Chairman Senator Herb Kohl calling for oversight hearings into Google’s practices that could harm competition, and specifically pointed to the acquisition of ITA Software, which powers sites like Kayak, Travelocity, and Orbitz.
“As you know, the DOJ is in the process of determining whether to approve Google’s proposed acquisition of ITA Software – a deal that could potentially provide Google with the ability to control the travel search vertical market,” Senator Lee wrote.
“Oversight by our Subcommittee is essential in helping free markets flourish in this important area of our economy. Ensuring robust competition will benefit consumers, spur innovation, and lead to job creation in our nation’s high-tech Internet economy,” Senator Lee added. “Vigorous antitrust enforcement is almost always preferable to a system of government regulations, which will inevitably be more costly and less efficient than a free market unencumbered by anticompetitive restrictions.”
