Congress clears Wall St reforms
Washington, July 16: The US Congress on Thursday approved the broadest overhaul of financial rules since the Great Depression and sent it to US President, Mr Barack Obama, to sign into law.
By a vote of 60 to 39, the Senate passed a sweeping measure that tightens regulations across the financial industry in an effort to avoid a repeat of the 2007-2009 financial crisis.
Wall Street had fought bitterly to derail the legislation, which leaves few corners of the financial industry untouched. It establishes new consumer protections, gives regulators greater power to dismantle troubled firms, and limits a range of risky trading activities in a way that would curb bank profits. “Unless your business model depends on cutting corners or bilking your customers, you have nothing to fear from this reform,” Mr Obama said. He is expected to sign the bill into law next week.
The Senate vote caps more than a year of legislative effort after Obama proposed reforms in June 2009. The House of Representatives approved the legislation last month. Financial markets showed little reaction as investors had already factored in the bill’s impact.
Although Obama originally had hoped for bipartisan support for reform, only three Republican senators voted in favour of the bill, joining 55 Democrats and two Independents. One Democrat opposed it.
With Republicans poised for big gains in the November congressional elections, Democrats are eager to show voters that they have tamed an industry that dragged the economy into its deepest recession in 70 years. “I regret I can’t give you your job back, res-tore that foreclosed home, put retirement monies back in your account,” said Dem-ocratic Senator, Mr Chris-topher Dodd, one of the bill’s authors.
Post new comment