Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) on Wednesday called on Senate Republicans not to filibuster President Obama’s nominee to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which 43 GOP senators have pledged to do unless Democrats agree to weaken the board’s authority.
He said in a statement:
“The GOP effort to undermine the work of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is an attack on America’s families. Predatory mortgages and other tricks and traps of the financial system have devastated too many working families. The CFPB was created, with the support of a supermajority of senators, to take on these egregious abuses and ensure that all Americans are protected from unfair and deceptive practices.
“The senators blocking Cordray must ask themselves a fundamental question. Does financial fairness for working families matter? I think it does. Financial fairness is essential for successful families. Financial fairness is a family value.
“Richard Cordray is, by Republicans’ own admission, extremely well qualified. He has run the agency superbly. He should be confirmed without delay.”
Merkley — who led the charge for reforming the filibuster, which ended with a whimper last month — accompanied his statement with a tweet.
GOP effort to undermine the @cfpb by filibuster is an attack on America’s families. Cordray should be confirmed without delay.
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) February 6, 2013
