Category Archives: AFR in the News

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For Mortgage Defaulters, More Loans for the Taking

For Mortgage Defaulters, More Loans for the Taking Annamaria Andriotis (Smart Money) June 1, 2011 “After years of turning down all but the best borrowers, banks and other lenders are now extending credit to a surprising group of customers: former homeowners who defaulted on their

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The Bank Lobby Steps Up Its Attack on Elizabeth Warren

The Bank Lobby Steps Up Its Attack on Elizabeth Warren Ari Berman (The Nation) June 1, 2011 “On May 24 Elizabeth Warren was back on Capitol Hill testifying before Congress, defending her brainchild, the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a key element of the 2010

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The ‘Warren Report’—GOP Attacks Consumer Agency

The ‘Warren Report’—GOP Attacks Consumer Agency Katherine Reynolds Lews (The Fiscal Times) May 19, 2011 “Even before it formally opens its doors this summer, the new federal agency created to protect consumers from unscrupulous financial industry practices is coming under withering attack by Wall Street

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Are SEC’s proposed credit-rating agency rules ‘toothless’?

Are SEC’s proposed credit-rating agency rules ‘toothless’? Alison Frankel (Thompson Reuters) May 18, 2011 “In the aftermath of the economic meltdown, the credit rating agencies have evaded liability as successfully as Superman dodges speeding bullets. Just a handful of surviving cases blame the credit rating

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Causing a furor before it exists

Causing a furor before it exists James Lardner (Remapping Debate) May 12, 2011 “With the passage of last year’s Dodd-Frank reform law, the 111th Congress called for the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Now, two months before its scheduled launch date, the ascendant

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BBC: Republicans determined to rewrite the Dodd-Frank Act

AFR Executive Director, Lisa Donner was interviewed by the BBC – click here to watch the story. 12 May 2011 Last updated at 06:24 ET Time to get tougher on the big banks, that is what Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke is expected to say

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Foes Revise Plan to Curb New Agency

Foes Revise Plan to Curb New Agency Edward Wyatt and Ben Protess (New York Times) May 5, 2011 “Legislators also have called for the consumer bureau to be subject to the Congressional appropriations process. As established, its budget is set as a percentage of the

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Durbin Amendment will help consumers

Durbin Amendment will help consumers Brad Griffin and Ronna Alexander (Helena-IR Your Turn – MT) April 1, 2011 “First, there are indeed many constituencies involved in the debate; in addition to “retailers,” many groups seek to have the rules implemented and not delayed as Sen.

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The Expensive Swipe Fee Wars

The Expensive Swipe Fee Wars Eliza Newlin Carnery (National Journal) March 28, 2011 The Dodd-Frank financial reforms enacted last year have unleashed lobbying battles on several fronts, but none has been so pitched or costly as the fight over debit card swipe fees…. Progressive activists