Sen Sanders: Fed Must Name Banks
In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (Socialist-VT) asked Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke the following:
“My question to you is, will you tell the American people to whom you lent $2.2 trillion of their dollars?”
Bernanke’s answer? “No.”
From Reuters:
WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) – A U.S. senator berated Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday for refusing to name banks that borrow from the central bank and introduced legislation that would require public disclosure.In a testy exchange at a hearing before the Senate Budget Committee, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who usually votes with the Democrats, said he found it “unacceptable” that the central bank risked taxpayer money without detailing where the funds went.
“My question to you is, will you tell the American people to whom you lent $2.2 trillion of their dollars?” Sanders asked, referring to the size of the Fed’s balance sheet.
Bernanke responded that the Fed explains the various lending programs on its website, and details the terms and collateral requirements.
When Sanders pressed on whether Bernanke would name the firms that borrowed from the Fed, the central bank chairman replied, “No,” and started to say that doing so risked stigmatizing banks and discouraging them from borrowing from the central bank.
“Isn’t that too bad,” Sanders interrupted, cutting him off. “They took the money but they don’t want to be public about the fact that they received it.”
According to the text of the proposed legislation, e-mailed by Sanders’ staff, he wants the central bank to identify any firm that has received financial assistance since March 24, 2008, including details on the type of borrowing, amount, date, terms and the Fed’s rationale for lending.
Sanders wants the Fed to publish those details on its website and update them at least every 30 days.
Unbelievable. If they can do what they want with no explanation with other people’s money. Banks, Auto, what’s next? CEOs flying to Washington in private jets begging for a hand out. Good, hard working, family oriented people escape all sorts of countries in the world where their governments do just as they please. From communist/ dictator runned countries to come here- surrounded by hyper educated socialists.
Dat To: I think you misread the article. The Socialist guy is the Senator demanding that the Capitalist stooge explain what they are doing with all the money.