WASHINGTON – It turned five years old today, but not everyone is singing “Happy Birthday” to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Republicans are turning to op-eds and social media to express their distaste for the law that, at least for now, isn't going away.
“Today is the 5th anniversary of #DoddFrank -a bill that you don't need to read further than than the title to know its (sic) bad,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tweeted.
“Too-big-to-fail institutions have not disappeared,” Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) wrote in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal. “Big banks are bigger, small banks are fewer, and the financial system is less stable. Meanwhile, the economy remains in the doldrums.”
Democrats, unsurprisingly, fought back.
“If #DoddFrank opponents try to open loopholes, weaken (regulations) or slash funding for regulators, they'll find (Senate Democrats) standing against them,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted.
Where do you stand on Dodd-Frank?
In support of Dodd-Frank, President Obama today announced the finalization of the Military Lending Rules. The rules were proposed by the CFPB, a consumer watchdog group that many have said has been the nail in the coffin for credit unions, which stated the regulations protect consumers.
NAFCU President/CEO Dan Berger said regardless of its intentions, Dodd-Frank has led to the collapse of 1,250 credit unions since 2010.
“Credit unions – not-for-profit, member-owned financial institutions – have been widely recognized for not having caused the financial crisis and for their prudent business model, but they are bearing the heavy burden of regulations imposed on them in response to Dodd-Frank and there appears to be no end in sight,” Berger said. “As credit unions disappear, consumers suffer the most. Credit unions offer financial services with low fees, competitive interest rates and exceptional service.”
Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) is also not a fan of Dodd-Frank. He said businesses should be regulated by way of competing for consumers' business, not by socialist legislation. Last week he proposed a new bill that would require the CFPB to explain why it won't exempt community banks and credit unions from certain rules and regulations, while Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) has created a bill to eliminate the CFPB altogether. A small business owner himself, Williams said overregulation by Dodd-Frank and the CFPB is hurting small business owners.
“They have the ability to exempt now but they never do it,” Williams said. “We're reversing it; we're making them be the aggressor rather than us being the victim.”
Williams said he has the support of CUNA, NAFCU, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas and the Texas Credit Union Association, as well as dozens of Republican lawmakers.
“The CFPB is the worst legislation, and Dodd-Frank, it's right up there with Obamacare,” Williams said.
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