Tennessee Senator Bob Corker says he’s still hopeful of a bipartisan compromise on financial reform that could “stand the test of time.” Last week the Senate Banking Committee passed a 1,300 page bill in less than half an hour along party lines.
Corker and other Republicans opted against pushing for amendments in committee. Corker says they may have a better chance once the bill hits the Senate floor.
“I think that we have an opportunity to do something with a very different cast of characters, I mean the whole Senate and not just the Banking Committee itself.”
Corker is calling for numerous changes but wasn’t specific about his ideas.
For one – he says the current proposal would give too much power to a new federal consumer protection office. Republicans say that could jeopardize economic growth.
“It has gotten a little out of line and that was a political move if you will. But I think we do have a chance of getting it back in the middle of the road.”
Corker says he is disappointed Democrats didn’t wait for a bipartisan compromise to emerge before bringing the bill to a committee vote.
Senator Corker will be in Nashville Wednesday to talk about financial reform. He’s speaking to faculty and students at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management.
Reported by Manuel Quinones
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