Dodd-Frank: Here to Stay

August 21, 2012 at 01:28 AM
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If Republicans "run the table in this year's elections, it is certainly possible that some of the more controversial provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act may be revisited," said David Tittsworth, executive director of the Investment Adviser Association (IAA) in Washington. However, a full repeal is unlikely, and "the financial services industry will be dealing with the Dodd-Frank Act for many years to come."

Indeed, this was evident at a recent Congressional hearing. While members of the House Financial Services Committee sparred over whether the Dodd-Frank Act is hurting more than it's helping, representatives from various segments of the financial services community testifying before the Committee in early July stopped short of saying Dodd-Frank needs to be repealed.

Dan Barry, managing director of government relations and public policy for the Financial Planning Association (FPA), noted that while "a lot of work has been done" in implementing Dodd-Frank, "a lot of unfinished business" remains. "Boosting investor protection through SEC fiduciary rules for brokers giving advice should remain a priority item," he said, "as should beefing up the SEC's oversight program for investment advisors."

Regular citizens are also signaling their support of financial reforms. An opinion poll released in July by Lake Research Partners of 803 Americans likely to vote in the November election found that financial reforms enacted in response to the 2008 financial crisis remain popular.

Results of the poll, conducted from July 5 to July 10 and commissioned by AARP, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), were the following:

• Voters favor the Dodd-Frank financial reform law by a 53-point margin (73-20). The support crosses party lines, with Republicans in favor by a 20-point margin, Independents by a 50-point margin and Democrats by an 83-point margin.

• Voters support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) created by Dodd-Frank by a 40-point margin. Two-thirds (66%) of voters overall and 69% of Independents agree that the CFPB is needed.

• Two-thirds of voters—including 78% of Republicans—support a state's right to pass and enforce stronger consumer protections and preventing federal law from overriding them.

• Americans clearly want stronger, not weaker, government oversight of financial companies. A majority (60%) of voters, including 65% of Independents, favor more government oversight; 73% of voters support tougher rules and enforcement for Wall Street financial companies, compared to just 17% who say they don't need further regulation.

• Voters want Wall Street to be held accountable and prevented from repeating the same actions. Nearly two-thirds of voters (64%) agree with the statement that Wall Street must be held accountable and prevented from repeating the same actions and believe this will help the economy. Just 28% agree with an opposing statement that Wall Street reform is a job killer that creates excessive government regulation and bureaucracy that stands in the way of our economic recovery.

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