Senate Demos move to curb Fed
Proposal would create 3 agencies to police banks and protect consumers
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats on Tuesday proposed stripping the Federal Reserve of its supervisory powers and creating instead three new federal agencies to police banks, protect consumers and dismantle failing institutions.
The 1,136-page bill, released by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, would represent a significant shift in power in federal oversight of the U.S. market. The Fed has been a dominant figure in managing the economy, although many lawmakers blame the central bank for not doing enough to prevent last year's crisis.
"We saw over the last number of years when (the Fed) took on consumer-protection responsibilities and the regulation of bank holding companies, it was an abysmal failure," said Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat.
Dodd's proposal prompted cheers from consumer advocates and other Democrats, including Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., an influential moderate who said swift action was necessary to prevent future government bailouts of big banks.
"Never again should the American taxpayers have to hear about 'too big to fail,' where the American taxpayer has to pick up the slack," Warner said.
But the financial industry quickly pushed back.
The bill "would produce conflicts among regulators, undermine the state-chartered banking system and impose extensive new regulatory burdens on those banks that had nothing to do with creating the financial crisis," said Edward Yingling, president of the American Bankers Association.
While Republicans were expected to oppose much of the bill, Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican on Dodd's committee, issued a statement setting an optimistic tone.
"I'm more hopeful than I was a few weeks ago that we will be able to come up with a bipartisan bill," said Corker, who has worked closely with Warner on banking issues.
Among the top points of contention is Dodd's desire to create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency to protect consumers taking out home loans or using credit cards against predatory lending and surprise interest rate hikes.
Republicans and industry officials say that creating another bureaucracy will make it harder for banks to do business and would limit the availability of credit.
Other provisions in Dodd's bill would:
Consolidate federal supervision of banks under a "Financial Institutions Regulatory Administration."
Abolish the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision, and strip the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Fed of their bank supervision duties.
Comments
- Survey: Parking rates relatively low 7:34 p.m.
- UCAT to revisit Brems' appointment 7:13 p.m.
- Woman dies after 14-story fall 6:32 p.m.
- The grateful living 5:50 p.m.
- Pop culture joins apocalyptic lure 5:50 p.m.
- Dropping beats on blessings 5:50 p.m.
- Theologian on 'Knowing God' 5:50 p.m.
- Churches in the news 5:50 p.m.
- Religion news in brief 5:49 p.m.
- Fan creates new 'Simpsons' character 5:48 p.m.
- Mailman's nomination delivered
- Jazz finally win in San Antonio
- U. professor dies after fall from bus
- 'New Moon' rising: Vamps vs. 'wolves
- Horrifying scenario described
- Archuleta still calls Utah home
- 4A: Timpview wins 4th title, 4 years
- Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
- Utah jobless rate at 6.5%
- Unga's status 'a game-time decision'
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
182 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
166 - MWC expand? Get rid of deadweight
141 - BYU, Utah struck gold in coaches
123 - Lies shatter Utah family
122 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
95 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
94 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
94 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
93 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
92
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
I don't pretend to be an expert on global warming. I've met with...
I was at the game and Bingham had the superior run game. Davis made a game...
I'll patiently await the Lord's word on any change to His mind and will on...
I believe you on the half time adjustments. That is what won the first...
Dear Anonymous, "... I will not longer support this university with my money,...
Congrats to both teams for making it this far in the season. I'm a Davis fan...
on the punt that went through that guys legs. He knows he touched the ball...
I would bench me if I were him. That guy is horrible! I'm glad Vince Young...
Ellen Goodman's column just underscored how unqualified she is to write a...
Is it that impossible for people in UT to exhibit the slightest amount of...
re:Don't Blame France Henry did handle it on purpose, TWICE. There was...


You can be the first to comment on this story.