WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement marking the 10th anniversary of the Lehman Brothers crash:
“Ten years ago today, our economy went into freefall, thanks to risky bets and self-serving greed on Wall Street, enabled by misguided policy choices to let those big banks police themselves. The best way to mark this anniversary is to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again.
“That’s why I pushed so hard to put a firewall—the Volcker Rule—between risky, hedge fund-style bets and traditional banks backed by tax dollars, among other important Dodd-Frank reforms. Yet the Trump administration and many in Congress are working overtime to take the cops off the beat again, and give free rein to Wall Street.
“The best way to mark this unfortunate anniversary is by putting the needs of consumers and small businesses first, and ensuring that there’s sensible accountability within our financial system.”
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