Community-Banker Proposal for Fed Blocked by Terrorism-Insurance Bill’s Demise

Wall Street Journal
Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The Senate has adjourned for the year without acting on a bill that would require one of the seven members of the Fed’s board of governors to be a community banker. The Senate had initially approved the measure, inserted into a bill passed by the House that extended the federal terrorism insurance program. But the Senate was unable to pass the final bill before adjourning. Sen. David Vitter (R., La.) proposed the legislation, saying a person with small-bank experience would act as a balance to board members from academic backgrounds. He plans to resurrect the proposal as a standalone bill and will look for opportunities to amend it to other pieces of legislation.