Political Quotes

“Now, throughout these hearings we see a lack of accountability. Executives of Washington Mutual make the reckless mortgage loans--not held accountable. Executives at Goldman Sachs and their company packaged many of these same loans that were toxic securities and then took a conflict-of-interest position on it--no accountability. Regulators, credit rating agencies that were supposed to check these excesses--no accountability. In each case, the senior leaders managed to avoid responsibility for their contribution to a crisis which has caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs or their homes or their businesses. Others may fail to take responsibility for their actions, but we must exercise our accountability. We must act. I do not understand our Republican colleagues, knowing what they know about the crisis, knowing there is no real regulator on the beat on Wall Street, can vote against beginning a debate. We don't have a cop on the beat on Wall Street. We need a regulator there. We need credit rating agencies not involved in conflicts of interest which are inherent to the way they are now being paid. We need a banking regulator which acts; one that doesn't just observe and watch things going off track but acts, and has a responsibility to act as well. The Dodd bill takes very significant steps relative to each of these areas.”