You felt insulted because he has a different opinion to you? Or did he write something insulting in his reply?
It is a dismissive comment from the senator, he should feel insulted. It is like saying "help I'm bleeding" and the guy next to you saying "its not that bad, get over yourself".
I'm not suggesting their is a spoken conspiracy. But when neither side benefits from direct competition, what's the word for that?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_(business)
In the days of Rockefeller, these things were a little more formal. Nowadays companies know better than to put such silent agreements in writing.