WSJ Washington Wire: Banker Presses Obama to Recess Appoint Elizabeth Warren to Consumer Post

MAY 23, 2011
Banker Presses Obama to Appoint Elizabeth Warren to Consumer Post

By Maya Jackson Randall

Not long ago, Oklahoma Bankers Association President Roger Beverage thought Elizabeth Warren was the “Antichrist.” But now he wants President Barack Obama to use his recess appointment powers to make her the first director of the new consumer protection agency.

In a letter to Mr. Obama, Mr. Beverage explained his change of heart, and urged Mr. Obama to move soon. “In light of the action taken by the forty-four senators who have stated they will oppose any nominee to serve as Director of the new Bureau unless certain changes are made to the Bureau’s structure, I encourage you to wait no longer and give Elizabeth a recess appointment before the July 21st transfer date,” he wrote.

In recent days, liberal groups, consumer advocates and House Democrats have also pressed the president to bypass a likely lengthy and contentious Senate confirmation process by appointing Ms. Warren, a Harvard law professor, to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director post while the Senate is on recess.

Mr. Beverage said Monday he has become a fan of Ms. Warren, a fellow Oklahoman.

“I just think she’s the right person at the right time to run the bureau, and we need someone in there who has an open ear to community banks, and she’s demonstrated, at least to me, she has that open ear,” he said in an interview. “I think she gets the connection between the general population and community banks.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/05/23/banker-presses-obama-to-appoint-elizabeth-warren-to-consumer-post/