6 lawmakers who could chair a banking committee next year
July 4, 2018 10:00 PM
Aaron P. Bernstein/Bloomberg
6 lawmakers who could chair a banking committee next year
WASHINGTON — Regardless of the outcome of November’s midterm elections, there could be a changing of the guard atop both the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee when the new Congress begins in 2019.
The House Financial Services Committee will see new leadership as Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, is not pursuing another term in Congress. If the GOP retains control of the House, numerous Republicans arevying to succeed Hensarling. If the Democrats seize power in the House, which pollsters see as a more likely scenario than a changeover in the Senate, the committee gavel would likely go to Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the ranking member.
Meanwhile, even if the Senate remains in Republican hands, the Senate Banking Committee could also see new leadership. Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, may pursue another leadership post atop the Senate Finance Committee, now led by the retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Here is a look at six members who could rise to the top of the banking committees:
The House Financial Services Committee will see new leadership as Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, is not pursuing another term in Congress. If the GOP retains control of the House, numerous Republicans are
Meanwhile, even if the Senate remains in Republican hands, the Senate Banking Committee could also see new leadership. Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, may pursue another leadership post atop the Senate Finance Committee, now led by the retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Here is a look at six members who could rise to the top of the banking committees:
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Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.
Waters has become a controversial figure over her calling for President Trump's impeachment, as well as more recently her urging supporters to confront administration officials and push back on their policies. But the House Financial Services Committee’s gavel would likely go to her if Democrats flip the House, which they are favored to do, since she serves as the ranking member.
The committee under her leadership would likely challenge the Trump administration on a number of fronts while prioritizing stronger consumer protections and affordable housing initiatives. Yet Waters likely would not be able to legislate much with Trump in the White House and if Republicans hold the Senate.
The committee under her leadership would likely challenge the Trump administration on a number of fronts while prioritizing stronger consumer protections and affordable housing initiatives. Yet Waters likely would not be able to legislate much with Trump in the White House and if Republicans hold the Senate.
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.
Luetkemeyer, who chairs the financial institutions and consumer credit subcommittee, has said he is “actively pursuing" the position of chairman of the full House Financial Services Committee.
He has advocated for the Senate to continue to take up measures to give banks relief from Dodd-Frank’s regulatory burdens, going beyond the reg relief bill that President Trump signed into law in May. Last year, Luetkemeyer called on bank regulators to draw up a list of guidance going back 20 years to determine whether any regulatory policies that were not subject to a formal rulemaking process should be submitted to lawmakers under the Congressional Review Act.
He has advocated for the Senate to continue to take up measures to give banks relief from Dodd-Frank’s regulatory burdens, going beyond the reg relief bill that President Trump signed into law in May. Last year, Luetkemeyer called on bank regulators to draw up a list of guidance going back 20 years to determine whether any regulatory policies that were not subject to a formal rulemaking process should be submitted to lawmakers under the Congressional Review Act.
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Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C.
McHenry is the vice chair of the House Financial Services Committee and is seen by many as a front-runner to succeed Hensarling. But he is also House chief deputy whip and could be in line for a more senior House leadership role when House Speaker Paul Ryan steps down at the end of his term.
Under McHenry’s leadership, the committee could pay greater attention to policies dealing with fintech firms. He has previously backed legislation that would give fintech companies more flexibility to enable them to go to market sooner with their products, and he has supported creating “regulatory sandboxes” for fintechs.
Under McHenry’s leadership, the committee could pay greater attention to policies dealing with fintech firms. He has previously backed legislation that would give fintech companies more flexibility to enable them to go to market sooner with their products, and he has supported creating “regulatory sandboxes” for fintechs.
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich.
Huizenga has also put his name in the running to chair the House Financial Services Committee. He currently chairs the subcommittee on capital markets, securities and investment. But he has been supportive of McHenry as Hensarling’s successor if the former does not pursue a higher House leadership.
Huizenga’s time on the committee has been largely focused on making it easier for companies to go public and he is supportive of legislation to facilitate initial coin offerings.
Huizenga’s time on the committee has been largely focused on making it easier for companies to go public and he is supportive of legislation to facilitate initial coin offerings.
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Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.
If current Senate Banking Committee chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, moves to the post chairing the Senate Finance Committee, Toomey could be in line to chair the banking panel.
The Pennsylvania senator is now the fourth most senior Republican on the panel. However, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., is already term-limited and therefore cannot run the committee. Meanwhile, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., has said he plans to leave Congress.
Toomey has advocated for ending the conservatorship of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ending the orderly liquidation authority, rolling back Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules and guidance, and easing regulatory burdens in the capital markets. But as Republicans are expected to only maintain a slim majority in the Senate, Toomey would need to find Democrats to support his legislation if he wants it to pass the 60-vote threshold in the chamber.
The Pennsylvania senator is now the fourth most senior Republican on the panel. However, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., is already term-limited and therefore cannot run the committee. Meanwhile, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., has said he plans to leave Congress.
Toomey has advocated for ending the conservatorship of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ending the orderly liquidation authority, rolling back Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules and guidance, and easing regulatory burdens in the capital markets. But as Republicans are expected to only maintain a slim majority in the Senate, Toomey would need to find Democrats to support his legislation if he wants it to pass the 60-vote threshold in the chamber.
Aaron P. Bernstein/Bloomberg
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio
It may be a long shot for Democrats to gain a majority in the Senate, but if a Democratic wave gives the party control of both chambers, Brown would be in line to chair the Senate Banking Committee. He is currently the committee’s ranking Democrat.
Like Waters, Brown represents the more progressive wing of the Democratic party, which would be a stark contrast from the committee’s current leadership. While four moderate Democrats on the committee were able to come up with a compromise with Crapo on a regulatory relief bill, Brown decided he couldn’t support what he called a “giveaway that loosens rules for the same big banks that helped crash the economy a decade ago.”
Like Waters, Brown represents the more progressive wing of the Democratic party, which would be a stark contrast from the committee’s current leadership. While four moderate Democrats on the committee were able to come up with a compromise with Crapo on a regulatory relief bill, Brown decided he couldn’t support what he called a “giveaway that loosens rules for the same big banks that helped crash the economy a decade ago.”
