Sign up to receive email updates
In The News
May 11, 2011
| The Washington Post
The Republicans’ fight against consumer protection
Issues: Financial Reform
We the people — the people who don’t have the money to hire lobbyists — need a strong Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. But if we the people don’t take action, the watchdog agency, which hasn’t had a chance to really fight for us, will be stripped of much of its power by a group of Republican legislators trying to weaken it.
May 11, 2011
| The Huffington Post
"Wall Street Crude Oil Casino" Blasted By House Democrats
Issues: Financial Reform
A cadre of top Democrats said Wednesday that heavy Wall Street speculation was driving up gas prices and blasted Republicans for pushing a new bill to delay any crackdown on such speculation until the end of 2012.
May 11, 2011
| The Hill
Frank: Senate GOP being "thugs" on Consumer Bureau blockade
Issues: Financial Reform
On May 5, a filibuster-proof bloc of 44 GOP senators announced that they would prevent the confirmation of any presidential nominee to head the agency unless several changes were made to it. Among the list of changes were to subject its budget to Congressional appropriations, and to replace the director position with a board of directors.
May 10, 2011
| National Public Radio
Republicans Propose "Tweaks" To New Financial Rules
Issues: Financial Reform
One of the first bills Republicans filed on the first day of this Congress was one repealing the new law governing Wall Street. But since then, the repeal bill has languished untouched, with barely a half-dozen co-sponsors. That doesn't mean Republicans are giving up, however. The GOP's latest plan is what detractors call death by a thousand cuts.
May 5, 2011
| The New York Times
Foes Revise Plan to Curb New Agency
Issues: Financial Reform
After losing a contentious battle last year over creating an agency to protect consumers against deceptive financial products, Republicans are fighting the battle again, determined to rein in the independence and financing of the agency.
May 3, 2011
| Bloomberg News
Frank Bill Would Exclude Regional Fed Presidents From Interest-Rate Votes
Issues: Financial Reform
“Under current law, more than one-third of the votes cast are made by regional Federal Reserve representatives -- people who are neither appointed by the President nor subject to Senate confirmation,” Frank said. “These men and women are chosen by a self-perpetuating group of private citizens who disproportionally represent the private financial services industry.”
May 2, 2011
| Bloomberg News
Bachus Says Consumer Bureau Proposal Isn’t Attack on Motherhood
Issues: Financial Reform
U.S. Representative Spencer Bachus, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said his proposal to change the leadership of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is “hardly a radical concept...." "It has nothing to do with Elizabeth Warren, it really has nothing to do with her,” Bachus said. After a pause, Bachus drew laughs from the bankers when he said, “I will not take a lie detector test.”
May 2, 2011
| The Boston Globe
Frank seeks $200B cut in defense spending
The United States spends too much to defend itself and wealthy allies from military threats that no longer exist or are greatly exaggerated, said US Representative Barney Frank, who called for cutting annual military spending by $200 billion per year.
May 1, 2011
| USA Today
Our view: GOP prepares to gut new consumer protection bureau
Issues: Financial Reform
In Washington, when you can't kill an idea you hate, you can always go back and maim it. That's what's happening this week in Congress, as House Republicans move to defang, declaw and de-energize a new agency created last year — over their unanimous opposition — to protect consumers.
Apr 19, 2011
| Fall River Herald-News
Kerry, Frank and McGovern call on state to divest all Hess shares
Sen. John Kerry joined with congressmen Barney Frank and James McGovern to request that Treasurer Steven Grossman “look at the possibility of divesting all shares of Hess Corporation stock the commonwealth currently holds until such time as that company ceases to support the ill-conceived construction of a liquefied natural gas facility in Fall River.”
