State Representative
Rich Stanek

543 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 296- 5502

For Immediate ReleaseFor more information contact:
December 21, 2001Shannon Robinson (651-296- 5989)
NEWS RELEASE
LOCAL LEGISLATOR ATTENDS ANTI-TRUST HEARINGS IN WASHINGTON D.C.

(St. Paul) State Representative Rich Stanek (Maple Grove) recently attended the House Judiciary hearings on Major League Baseball's anti-trust exemption in Washington D.C. Rep. Stanek was primarily in Washington to speak with congressional leaders from Minnesota about our state's needs to prepare for domestic terrorism.

While at the anti-trust hearings, Rep. Stanek heard the testimony from Governor Ventura and Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Minnesota Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum and other state legislators also attended the hearings.

Rep. Stanek is concerned with the status of the Twins franchise, but feels strongly that a stadium should not be funded with public money. "The Twins are an important part of this state, and we are working hard to keep them in Minnesota," said Rep. Stanek. "However, we need some time to put a plan together that will benefit all parties involved."

One effort to save the Twins involves eliminating the exemption of Major League Baseball from the federal Sherman anti-trust Act. The House Judiciary hearings were held to decide whether or not the exemption should be upheld. According to Rep. Stanek, "The exemption for baseball has been in effect since 1922 when the Supreme Court deemed the sport a legal monopoly. That decision is no longer fair or relevant." He continued, "Because major league baseball is the only organization of its kind in the country, it should be subject to the same anti-trust laws as other big businesses."

The Sherman Anti Trust Act was implemented to keep business owners from colluding (fixing prices or competition) thereby ensuring that consumers or communities did not get forced into situations where they could not bargain fairly for a product or service from a business. Because they are exempt, Major League Baseball owners can limit the number of cities that can have a major league franchise, which forces cities to unfairly compete with each other because baseball owners can collude to limit the number of major league franchises.

"Given the problems we've been experiencing for years with baseball, eliminating their monopoly would be a good first step," said Rep. Stanek. "Baseball has seemingly gone beyond just being a sport and pastime and has evolved primarily into big business which is one of the main reasons the Twins are in jeopardy. Major League Baseball should be subject to playing on a level playing field with all other business in this country." ###