Press ReleaseNeutral2026-04-21

After Weak Live Nation-Ticketmaster Antitrust Deal, Klobuchar Introduces Legislation to Ensure Antitrust Settlements Benefit Consumers, Workers, and Small Businesses—Not Special Interests

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This press release from Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) was published on 2026-04-21 and titled "After Weak Live Nation-Ticketmaster Antitrust Deal, Klobuchar Introduces Legislation to Ensure Antitrust Settlements Ben". It focuses on the economy and touches on taxes, the environment.

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After Weak Live Nation-Ticketmaster Antitrust Deal, Klobuchar Introduces Legislation to Ensure Antitrust Settlements Benefit Consumers, Workers, and Small Businesses—Not Special Interests Legislation is supported by antitrust enforcers from both sides of the aisle Companion legislation is being introduced in the House by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Amy Klobuchar introduced the Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act to strengthen review of antitrust settlements and ensure they protect consumers, workers, and small businesses. "When the government prosecutes antitrust violations, the goal should be to uphold the law, lower prices, and protect consumers and small businesses. In the recent settlement between the Department of Justice and Live Nation, it is clear the American people got the raw end of the deal. This bill-which has support from antitrust enforcers from both sides of the aisle-ensures that courts have the tools to independently review settlements and approve only those that benefit the American people," said Klobuchar. This legislation is cosponsored by Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Dick Durbin and Senators Cory Booker, Mazie Hirono, Richard Blumenthal, Peter Welch, Sheldon Whitehouse, Elizabeth Warren, and Chris Murphy. Companion legislation is being led in the House by Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee. "Strengthening our antitrust laws to put consumers and competition first must be a priority," said Senator Durbin. "As the Trump Administration continues to undermine antitrust enforcement, our bill provides much needed reforms to protect our workers and ensure transparency." "The enforcement of our antitrust laws should protect consumers, workers, and small businesses, not allow powerful corporations with the best lobbyists to get off with a slap on the wrist. Amid reports of the Trump Administration-s backroom deals and favoritism for the politically connected, it's time to strengthen transparency and oversight to ensure the Department of Justice is pursuing settlements in Americans- interests," said Senator Booker. "This legislation puts teeth into the review process so that courts, state attorneys general, and the public have a stronger role in scrutinizing settlements rather than merely deferring to a government that is looking out for the well-connected and powerful corporations, not everyday Americans." "When there-s a bad merger deal, it-s consumers and small businesses who foot the bill-facing higher prices and fewer choices as a result," said Senator Welch . "Any backdoor corporate settlement needs to face real scrutiny before it-s allowed to move forward. We need stronger antitrust laws that protect hardworking families." "Robust antitrust enforcement is critical to preventing massive corporations from further stacking the deck against working people and small businesses. For too long, these mega corporations have been allowed to consolidate market power without legally required public-input. By increasing transparency in merger settlements and creating stronger review processes for antitrust cases, the Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act will help ensure antitrust laws are actually enforced as Congress intended to protect consumers," said Senator Hirono. "Under Donald Trump, antitrust enforcement has become a growing cesspool of corruption. Giant mergers look like the newest way for Donald Trump to play political favorites while slashing choices and jacking up prices for Americans. This bill will protect consumers and workers by making sure the government doesn-t let giant companies like Ticketmaster or HPE off the hook based on influence-peddling," said Senator Warren. "This bill helps safeguard the integrity of antitrust enforcement, so often sacrificed under Trump. It gives consumers, workers and small businesses a voice and place in antitrust discussions, so their interests aren-t eclipsed by big corporations. The Trump Administration has corruptly favored businesses that serve the President-s interests over proper enforcement of antitrust laws-leading to higher prices for consumers and lower wages for workers, all in the interest of political favors and patronage. The Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act empowers courts to ensure settlements are consistent with the purpose of antitrust laws-lowering prices, increasing choice, and protecting workers," said Senator Blumenthal. "The Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act restores the idea that antitrust enforcement must serve the people-not conglomerates and special interests with Beltway lobbyists. When evaluating mergers and settlements, the Trump Administrat

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After Weak Live Nation-Ticketmaster Antitrust Deal, Klobuchar Introduces Legislation to Ensure Antitrust Settlements Benefit Consumers, Workers, and Small Businesses—Not Special Interests Legislation is supported by antitrust enforcers from both sides of the aisle Companion legislation is being introduced in the House by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Amy Klobuchar introduced the Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act to strengthen review of antitrust settlements and ensure they protect consumers, workers, and small businesses. "When the government prosecutes antitrust violations, the goal should be to uphold the law, lower prices, and protect consumers and small businesses. In the recent settlement between the Department of Justice and Live Nation, it is clear the American people got the raw end of the deal. This bill-which has support from antitrust enforcers from both sides of the aisle-ensures that courts have the tools to independently review settlements and approve only those that benefit the American people," said Klobuchar. This legislation is cosponsored by Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Dick Durbin and Senators Cory Booker, Mazie Hirono, Richard Blumenthal, Peter Welch, Sheldon Whitehouse, Elizabeth Warren, and Chris Murphy. Companion legislation is being led in the House by Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee. "Strengthening our antitrust laws to put consumers and competition first must be a priority," said Senator Durbin. "As the Trump Administration continues to undermine antitrust enforcement, our bill provides much needed reforms to protect our workers and ensure transparency." "The enforcement of our antitrust laws should protect consumers, workers, and small businesses, not allow powerful corporations with the best lobbyists to get off with a slap on the wrist. Amid reports of the Trump Administration-s backroom deals and favoritism for the politically connected, it's time to strengthen transparency and oversight to ensure the Department of Justice is pursuing settlements in Americans- interests," said Senator Booker. "This legislation puts teeth into the review process so that courts, state attorneys general, and the public have a stronger role in scrutinizing settlements rather than merely deferring to a government that is looking out for the well-connected and powerful corporations, not everyday Americans." "When there-s a bad merger deal, it-s consumers and small businesses who foot the bill-facing higher prices and fewer choices as a result," said Senator Welch . "Any backdoor corporate settlement needs to face real scrutiny before it-s allowed to move forward. We need stronger antitrust laws that protect hardworking families." "Robust antitrust enforcement is critical to preventing massive corporations from further stacking the deck against working people and small businesses. For too long, these mega corporations have been allowed to consolidate market power without legally required public-input. By increasing transparency in merger settlements and creating stronger review processes for antitrust cases, the Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act will help ensure antitrust laws are actually enforced as Congress intended to protect consumers," said Senator Hirono. "Under Donald Trump, antitrust enforcement has become a growing cesspool of corruption. Giant mergers look like the newest way for Donald Trump to play political favorites while slashing choices and jacking up prices for Americans. This bill will protect consumers and workers by making sure the government doesn-t let giant companies like Ticketmaster or HPE off the hook based on influence-peddling," said Senator Warren. "This bill helps safeguard the integrity of antitrust enforcement, so often sacrificed under Trump. It gives consumers, workers and small businesses a voice and place in antitrust discussions, so their interests aren-t eclipsed by big corporations. The Trump Administration has corruptly favored businesses that serve the President-s interests over proper enforcement of antitrust laws-leading to higher prices for consumers and lower wages for workers, all in the interest of political favors and patronage. The Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act empowers courts to ensure settlements are consistent with the purpose of antitrust laws-lowering prices, increasing choice, and protecting workers," said Senator Blumenthal. "The Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act restores the idea that antitrust enforcement must serve the people-not conglomerates and special interests with Beltway lobbyists. When evaluating mergers and settlements, the Trump Administrat