Washington, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement in response to HF 1563, a bill introduced in the Minnesota House that would upgrade state antitrust law and give antitrust enforcers vital new powers to reduce corporate power.

“Minnesota is a shining example of how states are leading the way in taking on corporate power,” said Pat Garofalo, Director of State and Local Policy at the American Economic Liberties Project. “This antitrust reform bill would enable state enforcers to rein in many of the abusive tactics dominant corporations use to harm workers and local businesses, but that are currently difficult to police under federal and state antitrust law. It also includes groundbreaking protections against corporations dominating labor markets in order to lower wages and working conditions. If it became law, it would be a new model for all states and the federal government to follow.”

“We applaud Rep. Emma Greenman and the bill’s co-sponsors for their leadership and hope all Minnesota legislators unite around passing this important bill and setting an example for the entire nation,” Garofalo added.

Minnesota’s HF 1563 is a great example of legislation Economic Liberties has encouraged state lawmakers to advance. In September 2022, Economic Liberties released Tools for Reforming Antitrust Policy: A Guide for State Lawmakers to Challenge Corporate Power, which included similar policy suggestions for strengthening antitrust enforcement and reining in corporate power. As part of the rollout of the toolkit, Economic Liberties hosted Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to discuss how state governments can crack down on corporate power and reform antitrust policy.

Learn more about Economic Liberties here. 

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.