Jonathan D. Leibowitz

Jonathan David Leibowitz (Jon D. Leibowitz) of Maryland, was appointed July 30, 2004, in a recess appointment by President George W. Bush to be a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the remainder of a seven-year term expiring September 25, 2010. Bush nominated Leibowitz on April 8, 2004, and his nomiation was sent to the Senate September 10, 2004. He was subsequently confirmed by the Senate November 21, 2004. Leibowitz, a lobbyist for the Motion Picture Association of America, replaced Mozelle Thompson, whose seven-year term expired in September 2003. 

Bush's successor, President Barack Obama, nominated Liebowitz to Chair the FTC in February 2009. "As a sitting commissioner appointed by George Bush and already approved by the Senate, Leibowitz doesn't need confirmation hearings."

In a March 2009 speech at a Center for Democracy and Technology event, Leibowitz described his agenda as FTC Chair. He said the agency needs several hundred more employees. His top issues include "curbing predatory financial practices, which he believes will only worsen during the recession"; stopping "brand pharmaceutical companies from paying off generic drugmakers to delay the availability of their low-cost versions to consumers"; and "making sure Internet advertising firms respect consumer privacy. Thus far, self-regulatory efforts by industry in this arena are not working, Leibowitz said."

Profiles
"Prior to holding his position at the MPAA, where he worked as the film industry’s liaison to members of Congress, Leibowitz was the Democratic chief counsel and staff director for the U.S. Senate Antitrust Subcommittee from 1997 to 2000. He worked concurrently as chief counsel to Senator Herb Kohl from 1989 to 2000. His other Capitol Hill experience includes stints as chief counsel to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism and Technology from 1995 to 1996 and the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice from 1991 to 1994. He worked for Senator Paul Simon from 1986 to 1987 and as an attorney in private practice in Washington from 1984 to 1986.

"A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. in American History, Leibowitz subsequently graduated from the New York University School of Law in 1984. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.

"A Democrat who lives in Bethesda, Md., with his wife and two children, Leibowitz succeeds Mozelle W. Thompson, who had been an FTC commissioner since 1997." 

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Barack Obama/Appointments and nominations as President
 * Federal Trade Commission

External resources

 * Speeches/Articles by Jon Leibowitz, Commissioner, FTC.

External articles

 * "Jon Leibowitz Sworn in as FTC Commissioner. Former MPAA Vice President, Antitrust Subcommittee Chief Counsel Replaces Former Commissioner Mozelle W. Thompson," FTC, September 3, 2004.