SEC wants more funding
The Wall Street Journal recently reported (subscription required) that the Securities & Exchange Commission wants more money from Congress to invest in the oversight of investment banks and credit-rating agencies. Given all the problems that have emerged there, it seems like it might be necessary.
But the problem is that many of the Chris Cox-led SEC's failures have not been a result of a lack of funding, but rather a lack of a political will to stand up to the Business Roundtable that no amount of additional funding can compensate for.
In a glaring betrayal of the investing public back in December, Cox and the GOP-controlled Commission took steps to insulate poorly performing directors from dissident shareholders.
Separately, investigative journalist Gary Weiss charges that, rather than cracking down on serious problems in the securities markets like the rating agencies and investment banks, Cox has devoted an inordinate amount of time to the topic of naked short selling. Weiss asked the question "Why is naked short selling the only `fraud' that has no victims and no perpetrators, only a bunch of crackpots yammering about conspiracies?"
Maybe the SEC does need more funding to protect the interests of investors. But it could do a lot more without any additional money if Cox and company actually took their duty to the American people seriously.
But the problem is that many of the Chris Cox-led SEC's failures have not been a result of a lack of funding, but rather a lack of a political will to stand up to the Business Roundtable that no amount of additional funding can compensate for.
In a glaring betrayal of the investing public back in December, Cox and the GOP-controlled Commission took steps to insulate poorly performing directors from dissident shareholders.
Separately, investigative journalist Gary Weiss charges that, rather than cracking down on serious problems in the securities markets like the rating agencies and investment banks, Cox has devoted an inordinate amount of time to the topic of naked short selling. Weiss asked the question "Why is naked short selling the only `fraud' that has no victims and no perpetrators, only a bunch of crackpots yammering about conspiracies?"
Maybe the SEC does need more funding to protect the interests of investors. But it could do a lot more without any additional money if Cox and company actually took their duty to the American people seriously.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-22-2008 @ 6:52AM
idpatch said...
Zac, two posts in one day. One repeating the word of a convicted felon (Antar)
(Editor's note: The rest of this comment has been redacted)
4-22-2008 @ 5:08PM
idpatch said...
Zac, did Gary Weiss ask you to remove those kind remarks I had of him? I find it amusing the amount of hatred he spews and how you repeat it but somehow when the same is returned you guys simply edit it out. Was it the "has-been" that offended you and Gary or the discussion about his book?