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Bachmann: ACORN could regulate the financial sector
The embattled community group ACORN could help regulate the financial services industry under new financial regulatory reforms, said Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) on Wednesday.
Bachmann, a consistent opponent of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), said that an amendment given in the House Financial Services Committee could allow the group to sit on an advisory panel that monitors the regulations.
Bachmann’s remarks come as House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank’s (D-Mass.) regulatory reform bill is set to be brought to a floor vote this week.
The amendment offered by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) created Consumer Financial Protection Oversight Board that would need to include five members from the “fields of consumer protection, fair lending and civil rights, representatives of depository institutions that primarily serve under-served communities or representatives of communities that have been significantly impacted by higher-priced mortgage loans.”
The panel does not have the power to create policy but can recommend policies to the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.
Bachmann argued that this provision could allow ACORN to participate on the board. ACORN was temporarily stripped of its federal funding by Congress in September after two conservative activists posing as a pimp and prostitute filmed ACORN employees offering them financial advice.
The Minnesota congresswoman said she would offer an amendment negating the Waters language. She requested a provision be added to the omnibus appropriations bill that would extend the funding ban to Sept. 30, 2010.
Bachmann previously offered an amendment to the Financial Services Committee version that would bar ACORN-like groups from sitting on a separate advisory panel. Her amendment was approved by the panel. Waters' amendment was also included in the final bill.
This post was updated at 1:15 p.m.
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