Worried about his job, Bernanke now presses for financial reforms


On Thursday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will appear before the Senate Banking Committee. The purpose of the meeting is to decide whether he will be reappointed for a second term as Fed chairman.

He must be a bit nervous. He has taken to the stump, touting his accomplishments and desires for fiscal reform. He is being charged by some members of Congress for not being vigilant enough during the financial meltdown. Representative Ron Paul (R., Texas) already sponsored a provision in a committee that would audit the Federal Reserve more than it already is. Both the House and Senate are looking at ways to strip Bernanke of some of his powers. They would relegate him to managing interest rates.

Bernanke's latest proposal is for banks to retain a larger capital base, thus avoiding another crisis. While this is a worthwhile idea, it's a day late and a dollar short. Bernanke has allowed the big banks to gobble up failed banks with TARP money. He has allowed the bankers to trade in house instead of forcing them to lend to businesses. He has allowed the bankers to take record bonuses. Unlike the U.K., which has imposed tough measures on its banks, Bernanke has done nothing. Now, conveniently, just a few days before his reappointment, he wants to enforce some regulations. He has not specified what he will do. So far, for the past year, it's been all talk and no action.

Bernanke has to defend pledging $12.2 trillion to bail out a handful of bankers. He should be held accountable for his actions. He must tell the truth to the American people. Where did all this money go?

Should Bernanke be reappointed?

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