While a number of Democratic senators have announced their opposition to giving Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke a second term, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) released a statement today saying he will in fact vote for Bernanke, but that he expects the chairman to do more to “ensure families can access the credit they need to buy or keep their home, send their children to college or start a small business.”
“While I will vote for his confirmation, my support is not unconditional. I know Chairman Bernanke is committed to transparency and accountability, and that is why I will hold him to the highest standards of both. The Senate will continue to demand visible and responsible results for the people we represent,” Reid said.
Reid said he met with Bernanke yesterday to discuss the chairman’s second term. “I made it clear that to merit confirmation, Chairman Bernanke must redouble his efforts,” Reid said. “He has assured me he will soon outline plans for making that happen, and I eagerly await them.”
