Tuesday, March 24, 2009

 

Treasury could get authority to seize insurers, investment firms and hedge funds

U.S. Seeks Expanded Power to Seize Firms Goal Is to Limit Risk to Broader Economy

The Obama administration is considering asking Congress to give the Treasury secretary unprecedented powers to initiate the seizure of non-bank financial companies, such as large insurers, investment firms and hedge funds, whose collapse would damage the broader economy, according to an administration document.

The government at present has the authority to seize only banks.

Giving the Treasury secretary authority over a broader range of companies would mark a significant shift from the existing model of financial regulation, which relies on independent agencies that are shielded from the political process. The Treasury secretary, a member of the president's Cabinet, would exercise the new powers in consultation with the White House, the Federal Reserve and other regulators, according to the document...

Washington Post: U.S. Seeks Expanded Power to Seize Firms

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