Shelby, White House squabble over dentists being covered in Wall Street bill

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, is arguing the Democratic financial overhaul bill would subject orthodontists to new regulations.

Shelby has long opposed the scope and powers of a Democratic plan for a new consumer financial protection office. Republicans and lobbyists, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have repeatedly clashed with White House and congressional Democrats about which industries would be covered under the bill.

The White House said Friday that Republicans are playing "Whac-a-mole" with financial reform and their claims of dentists being covered.

"If your orthodontist, or doctor, or dentist lets you pay your bill over a series of months, they could be covered, depending on how the consumer protection czar defines the word significant," Shelby said on Friday.