mergers...so government does have a responsibility, in a macro sense. In this case, it would appear that there was no such issue...however, officials like Manchin and Justice also have a responsibility to their constituents and can plead for national attention as in the Tennessee plant situation...it's unclear as to how hard those two fought for assistance.
I am by no means in favor of government interference with the inner workings of businesses...however, there are some actions which government can take that will "influence" those decisions, and #1 is taxation...both corporate and individual.
I'm feeling a return to my Thomas Piketty "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" discussion coming on...