Is Washington Enacting Financial Regulatory Reform or Merely ‘Studying’ It?

Our ’so called’ leaders would like to project themselves as real leaders doing the people’s business, meanwhile they are beholden to other constituencies. God forbid they actually take a stand and show their true mettle. So we witness our politicians agreeing to ’study’ issues, which is more often the equivalent of putting issues on the back burner or letting them die on the vine. Who wins? Lobbyists. Who loses? Average Americans. Who tries to save face? Our political cowards.

This charade is being played at historic levels in the midst of trying to pass comprehensive financial regulatory reform. I have always believed that the critical components within financial regulatory reform revolve around increased transparency and integrity more than sufficiency. Regrettably, the terms ‘transparency’ and ‘integrity’ are not typically synonymous with Washington.

Just how many studies will Washington undertake under the umbrella of financial regulatory reform? Are you sitting down? As CNN reported the other day, Congress Fixes Wall Street–and Orders Up 68 Studies:

In Washington, there’s a code phrase for the middle ground that lawmakers find after a torrent of industry lobbying or partisan debate: “Let’s do a study.”

The Wall Street reform bill may be the most extreme example: The legislation, which could become law later this month, orders government officials to conduct some 68 studies, according to a CNN Money analysis.

Instead of toughening up ethical and marketing standards for financial planners, Congress studies the issue in the financial overhaul bill. Instead of making it easier to sue lawyers, accountants and bankers who help commit securities fraud, Congress studies the issue.

There are obviously times when studies are appropriate, but when timelines and deadlines for the completion of the study are not established, who will truly prepare for the test, which is the vote. In my opinion, studies are nothing more than political gridlock utilized by gutless politicians.

Congressional veterans who watch financial legislation say they can’t remember a banking bill that commissioned more studies. Former Republican Senate Banking staffer Mark Calabria said the large number of studies reflects the wrangling strategy, chasing 60 Senate votes needed to get the bill passed.

“Studies help provide sufficient cover to sometimes gain a vote,” said Calabria, who directs financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

Not exactly the virtues embraced by Sense on Cents. Self-interested politicians commissioning studies for political cover are a large part of the problem in America and why Congress has such abysmal approval ratings.

No need to study that.

LD