Jim Bunning
The Public Record
Jim Bunning is a former United States Senator from Kentucky, serving from 1999 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party, Bunning was known for his strong conservative positions and advocacy for fiscal responsibility. Before his political career, he was a professional baseball player, notably a pitcher in Major League Baseball, where he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. Bunning's tenure in the Senate included a focus on issues such as energy policy and workers' compensation reform, often criticizing the Department of Energy's handling of compensation programs for workers.
Jul 14, 2009
The fear I have is a group of hedge funds or investment advisers getting together, colluding, shorting individual stocks for their own purpose.
Jul 14, 2009
Success is rewarded and failure is punished. Pay is based on performance over time and not just in the short run.
Jul 14, 2009
To limit the potential harm that could be done by private investment firms to the system and counterparties, do you think it is better to place limits on the firms themselves or to limit the exposure of counterparties like banks to the…
Jul 14, 2009
In so doing, we may just double and triple the problem, so I want you to be aware that that is why we are hesitant.
Jul 14, 2009
To address systemic risk and fraud, do you think the SEC is better off focusing on resources on constant supervision and examination or kind of after-the-fact enforcement?
Jul 14, 2009
But do you think that it should be on the Standard & Poor's and Moody's and those who rate risk, if they lower their risk on a certain entity?
Jul 14, 2009
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Bunning, and other Members of the Committee, I thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
Jul 14, 2009
For all the firms, if we had a systemic risk regulator and that regulator came to you and told you to get out of some positions, how would you react?
Jul 14, 2009
What do you think caused the failure of Long-Term Capital Management in 1998? What do you think caused it?
Jul 14, 2009
I believe the SEC, with access to more information from market participants, is fully capable of providing appropriate oversight.
Jul 14, 2009
It seems obvious to me that firms and traders will act more responsibly when they know they will face the consequences of their actions, which is why bailouts breed more bailouts.