Al021224
Are We Wasting Your Time?
We most assuredly hope not, but watching Congress last week was deeply dispiriting not only when it comes to the most critical issues of the day, but also to essential financial-policy decisions. Our in-depth reports on Tuesday’s HFSC hearing with Secretary Yellen (see Client Report FSOC30) and Thursday’s Senate follow-up (see Client Report FSOC31) laid out key topics discussed and what was said as we always do. But what we said about what was said was largely inconsequential because almost nothing of real note was said. The exception came on Thursday when the Secretary intimated that near-term action may begin to deal with the systemic risk FSOC fears from nonbank mortgage companies. But even here she was elliptical and no senator made any effort to pin her down. Instead, they – like their House counterparts and the secretary – reiterated partisan talking points about the economy, inflation, and the debt. But, reading between the lines in our reports and our other analyses illuminates a remarkable number of likely, meaningful Congressional actions on issues of immediate financial policy import assuming NYCB doesn’t fail and absorb the little bandwidth Congress seems to have for financial policy.