Antitrust Pork Barrel

Abstract

RICHARD POSNER, writing in 1969, asserted that Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was significantly impaired in its task of promoting public interest by commission's dependence on Congress.' To make this point Posner employed model of antitrust pork barrel. He emphasized that each member of Congress is obligated to protect and further provincial interests of citizens of jurisdiction that he represents. Specifically, the welfare of his constituents may depend disproportionately on few key industries. The promotion of industries becomes one of his most important duties as representative of district.2 Moreover, because power to control FTC is so unevenly distributed among members of Congress, potential exists for each member of powerful subcommittees to exercise a great deal of power to advance interests of businesses located in his district however unimportant interests may be from national standpoint.3 Posner concluded that FTC investigations are seldom in public interest and are initiated at behest of corporations, trade associations, and trade