August 2012 - Americans for Financial Reform

AFR Press Statement: SEC JOBS Act Proposal Fails to Address Investor Safety Concerns

Earlier today, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted 4-1 to issue a proposed rule implementing the provision of the JOBS Act that allows the “general solicitation and advertising” (GS&A) of private stock offerings. Commissioner Luis Aguilar voted against releasing the proposal, pointing out that it did not include any of the enhanced protections suggested by commenters (such as CFA and AFR) to address the significantly increased investor vulnerability that will result from lifting the long-standing ban on these practices.

AFR Comment Letter: CFTC Derivatives Rules Must Apply to Foreign Affiliates

AFR submitted a comment letter to the CFTC regarding a rule that will determine whether the CFTC can regulate derivatives trading by foreign affiliates of US banks and corporations. Since derivatives trades move easily around the world and between affiliates and the parent company, it is important that US regulators be able to apply Dodd-Frank to such foreign trades. Our letter urged the CFTC not to let financial institutions escape derivatives rules by funneling transactions through their foreign affiliates.

Consumer Federation of America Press Statement In Response to SEC Announcement Regarding JOBS Act Rulemaking

In a major victory for investors, SEC Chairman confirmed earlier today that the Commission was changing course and would follow the traditional rulemaking procedures – proposing a rule and offering an opportunity for public comment – before lifting the solicitation ban.

Sign on Letter: JOBS Act Rulemaking Raises Complex Concerns

The JOBS Act rulemaking on the SEC’s schedule Aug. 22 raises a variety of complex issues that demand a full and transparent rulemaking process. The rushed approach to rulemaking reportedly contemplated by the agency would not allow for full consideration of these issues, and would therefore put investors at risk.

AFR in the News: U.S. Banks Push Consumer Bureau to Postpone Rule on Remittances

U.S. Banks Push Consumer Bureau to Postpone Rule on Remittances 2012-08-16 18:56:17.327 GMT By Carter Dougherty Aug. 16 (Bloomberg) — U.S. banks are lobbying the consumer finance bureau to delay rules on international money transfers, saying they can’t meet a Feb. 7 deadline for disclosing

AFR Press Statement: Rushed JOBS Act Rulemaking Puts Investors at Risk, Advocates Warn SEC

AFR issued a press statement urging the SEC to abandone its rushed JOBS Act Rulemaking, which could put investors at risk.

Sign on Letter: Support CFPB’s Overseas Remittances Rule

AFR signed onto a letter supporting the CFPB’s overseas remittances rule, which requires remittance transfer providers to provide essential information to consumers about the actual amount of money to be received by their family in the foreign country. The rule makes remittance providers liable for agents acting on their behalf and includes an error resolution procedure to resolve problems.

Sign on Letter: Investors Oppose Rushed JOBS Act Rulemaking

With the SEC poised to adopt its first major rule under the controversial JOBS Act next week, former regulators, securities law experts, and advocates for investors, workers, and older Americans have called on SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro not to move forward with rulemaking without first carefully examining the potential harm to investors, developing a regulatory approach designed to minimize those harms, and putting its regulatory proposal out for public comment. At its August 22 meeting, the SEC is reportedly considering lifting the ban on general solicitation and marketing in private offerings through an interim or temporary rule, a move that advocates say would be a clear violation of the letter and the spirit of the Administrative Procedures Act.

AFR Comment Letter: Oppose Delay of International Derivatives Rules

AFR submitted a comment letter to the CFTC opposing the delay of key international derivatives rules. At a minimum, safe guards should be maintained if the delay is granted.

AFR in the News: Talking Populist, Walking Plutocrat: Paul Ryan on Dodd-Frank and the Volcker Rule

In a little noted speech to his constituents in May, Paul Ryan decried the “crony capitalism” that he said, prompted the big bank bail-outs of 2008 (though he himself voted for the TARP, and he himself gets massive campaign contributions from big financial firms).