Topic: U.S. House Committee on Financial Services

Top galleries, list articles, quizzes

Ron Paul vs. the Federal Reserve: four epic moments

Ron Paul hasn't been the Federal Reserve's only critic, but he ranks among the most consistent and persistent in his charge that the Fed has debased the dollar and destroyed the wealth of Americans.
Facebook IPO: Six key dates in its debacle

Facebook's first week as a publicly traded company will go down as a terribly botched corporate launch, perhaps one of the worst in recent history for such a highly visible entity. Eight days ago, it was the tech world's most highly anticipated initial public offering in eight years. Now, the social media company faces mounting legal woes and serves as an embarrassing example of how not to run an IPO. Despite rising insider pessimism about its growth prospects, Facebook kept boosting its asking price and the number of shares it would sell. The result: billions of dollars in losses; investigations by two congressional committees, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an industry watchdog, and the state of Massachusetts; at least 13 class-action lawsuits; and thousands of resentful shareholders who days later still were unsure how many Facebook shares they had or at what price. Here are six key dates in Facebook's unfolding IPO disaster.
Briefing
Five things Ron Paul wants from the Republican National Convention

It looks as if Ron Paul is going to be an active participant in the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August. Here’s our take on the five things Paul hopes to gain from staying within his party’s tent in 2012.
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 03/02

All Content

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac regulator throws lifeline to underwater homeowners

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: The overhaul, which would only help a fraction of the country's 11 million underwater borrowers, is the latest government effort to breathe life into the crippled US housing market.
Fed bashing is back in vogue

The Federal Reserve is getting a lot of healthy criticism. But the moves by politicians are worrying.
US debt downgrade is possible, not inevitable

Deven Sharma, president of Standard & Poor's, told a House subcommittee Wednesday that if lawmakers can work out a 'grand bargain' with $4 trillion in deficit cuts over the next decade, the US may yet keep its AAA rating.
Ben Bernanke: High unemployment rate to persist, even as economy revives [VIDEO]

Ben Bernanke said on Capitol Hill Wednesday, the pace of the US economy 'will pick up in coming quarters.' But the unemployment rate will decline slowly, he said, citing 'headwinds.'
Thaddeus McCotter jumps into presidential race. Thaddeus who?

US Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan says he's running for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. His biggest challenge is name recognition.
If Rep. Weiner stays in Congress, will he become irrelevant?

Former members of Congress paint a grim picture of what could await Rep. Weiner if he doesn't resign, including shunning and loss of influence. Democrats are already edging away.
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 03/02
With new oversight powers, House GOP aims to put Obama on defensive

Obama has faced little congressional oversight so far, but with House GOP probing into policies ranging from illegal immigration to health care, the president's oversight holiday may be over.
House passes bipartisan tax cut deal, first of Obama administration

Though many House Democrats balked at extending Bush-era tax cuts, House lawmakers late Thursday approved the $858 billion tax cut deal intact, with 139 Democrats and 138 Republicans.
Barney Frank and Mass. Dems regain footing

Barney Frank, who defeated challenger Sean Bielat, used his speech to lash out at Republicans over negative campaigning.
Let's get Frank

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has championed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for 30 years, despite the hundreds of billions of dollars it cost taxpayers after the 2008 bailout.
Could Barney Frank lose his House seat to newcomer Sean Bielat?

The race has long been considered a slam-dunk for Barney Frank, but now it's getting some attention. That's partly because of his status as a powerful Democrat that Republicans love to hate.
Democrats' bold stand: Want to trim federal debt? Cut defense.

On Wednesday, 56 Democrats and one Republican said that any effort to reduce the federal debt needs to include defense cuts. They called for an independent commission to take up the issue.
Who needs Stephen Colbert? Five witty quips from Barney Frank Friday.

House Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank, the guest Friday at a Monitor-sponsored breakfast for reporters in Washington, had journalists chortling. Here are his five best lines.
Rep. Barney Frank sees economy taking off, but not before midterms

Rep. Barney Frank, speaking at a Monitor-sponsored breakfast Friday, does not expect the rebound to be visible to voters in time for November’s midterm elections.
Elizabeth Warren: Obama picks aggressive consumer adviser

Elizabeth Warren understands 'every American has to get a fair shake in their financial dealings,' Obama says.
Elizabeth Warren, Wall Street critic, to head new consumer protection bureau

Elizabeth Warren is tipped to be appointed by President Obama to set up a new consumer finance protection agency dealing with mortgages, credit cards and other financial products. But the choice of Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard professor, is controversial.
Reader mailbag: Should you loan money to parents?

A reader asks if it's unethical to charge interest on a loan to parents.
The Monitor's View: Bye-bye Fannie and Freddie, but hello to what?

Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are draining taxpayers and face extinction. Obama is due to present reforms in housing policy by January. One consensus: more help for renters.
Maxine Waters maintains innocence as House outlines ethics violations

The House ethics committee released formal charges Monday against Rep. Maxine Waters, a California Democrat, that claim she improperly helped a bank in which her husband owned stock receive federal funds.
Internet gaming in the US: If it were legal, what would be the effects?
The Monitor's View: Bill to legalize Internet gambling: No dice

The House financial committee will mark up a bill Tuesday to legalize Internet gambling. Even many in the US industry oppose it. It is largely foreign gaming websites that are behind this attempt to overturn the 2006 ban.
What's in the financial reform compromise reached by House, Senate

House and Senate conferees crafted a final version of financial reform legislation Friday. Both houses are expected to vote on the bill next week.
Wall Street financial reform one step closer to becoming law

Wall Street financial reform took another step early Friday to reaching the President's desk when a House and Senate conference committee reached agreement on financial overhaul regulations.
Fannie, Freddie bailout could cost taxpayers $1 trillion

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guarantee almost $6 trillion in mortgages. The cost of fixing them will be the largest US bailout ever.