‘Much-Needed Relief’

‘Bipartisan Agreement Years In The Making’

“The Senate is expected this month to approve the most significant rollback of postcrisis financial rules since Republicans took control of Washington last year. The bipartisan legislation, supported by the Trump administration and top Federal Reserve officials, would relax dozens of rules for small to medium-size banks, shaking up the banking sector... A central piece of the bill could relieve about two dozen regional banks from stricter rules put in place by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial law, which sought to prevent another financial crisis with restrictions across the industry. The bill will raise the threshold at which banks face tighter oversight to $250 billion in assets from the current $50 billion—a victory for midsize banks, which have long said they shouldn’t be lumped in with the largest banks.” (“Senate Readies Rollback Of Bank Rules,” Wall Street Journal, 3/1/2018)

• “Supporters argue that the legislation would bring much-needed relief to midsize and regional banks that were treated like their much larger counterparts under the 2010 legislation known as Dodd-Frank.” (“10 Years After Financial Crisis…” The Washington Post, 3/4/2018)

“…a rare, bipartisan agreement years in the making that would relax a number of banking regulations enacted after the 2008 financial crisis. The deal was driven by Senate Banking Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and a handful of red-state Democrats who have long argued that the rules were stifling lending for their rural constituents.” (“Senators Reach Rare Bipartisan Deal To Ease Banking Rules,” Politico, 11/13/2017)

• “‘Literally, from the night of the conference on Dodd-Frank, there have been discussions about the need to go in and make some fixes,’ said Senate Banking Chairman Mike Crapo, the lead author of the deregulation bill. ‘Almost absolute resistance’ by President Barack Obama and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stopped it from happening sooner, Crapo said. … ‘We have been negotiating for about four years,’ said Crapo...” (“Victory In Sight For Democrats Defying Warren On Bank Bill,” Politico, 3/05/2018)

‘The Biggest Change To The 2010 Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Law Since It Was Signed’

• “The Senate will vote next week on a bipartisan bank regulatory relief legislative package that would be the biggest change to the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law since it was signed. … The legislative package, authored by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo of Idaho, has the support of a dozen Democrats…” (“Senate To Vote Next Week On Bipartisan Bill To Ease Rules On Banks,” Washington Examiner, 3/1/2018)

• “…the most significant bipartisan rollback of financial regulations since postcrisis rules were put in place.” (“Senate Panel Advances Bipartisan Plan For Eased Bank Oversight,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/5/2017)

• “…the first rewrite of the Dodd-Frank reform law enacted after the 2007-2009 global financial crisis. … The move by McConnell to take the bill to the Senate floor will be cheered by small and mid-sized U.S. banks, which have long pushed for a rewrite of Dodd-Frank.” (“Senate To Consider Bill Next Week Easing Bank Rules,” Reuters, 3/1/2018)

• “…bipartisan agreement on big changes to banking rules has been elusive in the Senate since Democrats enacted a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations in 2010.” (“Senators Reach Rare Bipartisan Deal To Ease Banking Rules,” Politico, 11/13/2017)