Jack Conway, the Kentucky Democratic nominee for Senate, has joined a growing number of Democrats publicly calling on President Obama to nominate Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created by the new financial reform law.
Conway has signed onto the Progressive Change Campaign Committee petition calling on Obama to appoint Warren, who progressives have long praised for her tough talk aimed at banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions. Progressives say a Warren-led CFPB would have the teeth its supporters intended.
In a statement posted to the PCCC website, Conway said he shares the view that Warren has proved her value as the head of the Congressional panel charged with keeping track of how stimulus money is spent.
“Kentuckians deserve a strong nominee to fight for consumer protections in Washington,” Conway said. “Elizabeth Warren has gained invaluable expertise protecting taxpayers as chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel and continues to stand up to Wall Street on behalf of consumers.”
Conway also took the oppurtunity slam his opponent, Rand Paul. Conway said the Republican “wants to get rid of regulations.”
“Rand Paul would have let Wall Street continue its risky gamble with our pensions and savings, which plunged our country into an economic recession and jeopardized our future economic security,” Conway said.
So far, PCCC says there are 17 sitting Senators who have expressed support for Warren. But opposition to Warren is strong, too. Republicans have said she would use the agency to pursue a liberal vendetta against big business, and some Democrats have suggested it’s all but impossible that she would be confirmed.
PCCC chair Adam Green told TPMDC that the fight to get Warren at the head of the CFPB is one worth having, and he praised Conway for signing on.
“Jack Conway deserves a lot of credit for standing up for consumers and being counted on this important issue,” Green said. “From north to south, east to west, those who care about protecting consumers and holding Wall Street accountable agree that Elizabeth Warren is ideal for this new position — and it’s time for the White House to appoint her.”
The TPM Poll Average shows Paul leading Conway 46.3-41.0.
