Joe Grogan, co-founder and president of Public Policy Solution, argues in his recently published op-ed, “Americans deserve more than an ‘incomplete’ filing in Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern rail merger,” that the merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern raises serious concerns about competition, safety, and rising costs across the U.S. freight rail system.
He highlights that federal regulators rejected the companies’ initial filing as “incomplete,” underscoring the lack of transparency and failure to fully assess the merger’s nationwide economic and operational impacts.
In his op-ed, Joe writes
“An unvetted merger increases the risks of service problems or competitive distortions down the line. When large consolidations fail to deliver promised benefits, Washington intervenes. That intervention, particularly if Democrats gain control of Congress or the White House, could ultimately undermine the pro-growth policies it seeks to protect.
Republican officials expect a rigorous review of this merger from the Surface
Transportation Board. A group of Republican state attorneys general has urged federal scrutiny of the transaction, and members of Congress have emphasized that the railroads must demonstrate clear, measurable benefits for manufacturers, agricultural producers, the energy sector and consumers.
That is not anti-business sentiment; it reflects the importance of credibility and transparency in preserving public confidence in market outcomes.”
Read the full article at The Washington Times.