Steve Driehaus: “If you want to make sure that politics isn't involved in the Small Business Lending Fund, you want to make sure that the…”

“If you want to make sure that politics isn't involved in the Small Business Lending Fund, you want to make sure that the Treasury is sticking to their oath and making sure that these are based on economic decisions, then you vote for this bill. If you believe politics should be part of it, then vote against it. We keep missing the mark here in terms of the Republicans. The Republicans want to talk about SIGTARP. This isn't about TARP. No more should SIGTARP be overseeing the Department of Defense than should they be overseeing small business lending. This is about Treasury and making sure that politics aren't part of the decisions being made at Treasury. Again, if the Republicans think politics should be part of the decision, they can vote 'no,' but we took them at their word that they didn't think politics should be part of the Treasury function. We've taken it away through the Inspector General. The Inspector General has an incredible track record. We respect that track record. And if the Republicans don't respect it, they can, with all due respect, vote against this. But again, this is not TARP money. As much as they would like to have us believe that this is, again, another TARP, it is not. And I realize that doesn't fit into the political rhetoric that is so often used around here, but it is the reality.”