The Senate just voted, 96-0, to audit the Federal Reserve. Soon, we will know what the Federal Reserve did with the trillions of dollars that it handed out during the financial crisis.
A few months ago, such a vote would have been unthinkable. One senior Treasury official claimed he would fight to stop an audit 'at all costs'. Senator Chris Dodd predicted that an audit would spell economic doom, while Senator Judd Gregg attacked accountability for the Fed as "pandering populism".
Today, both the Treasury Department and Senator Dodd support this amendment. As for Judd Gregg, he was just on the floor of the Senate discussing -- of all people -- 19th century populist Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan.
What happened?
People Power is what happened. We built a coalition of people on the right and the left, ordinary citizens and economists, ex-regulators and politicians, all with one question for which we demanded an answer: "What happened to our money?"
No longer can Ben Bernanke get away with saying, "I don't know."
Now, we're going to know who got what, and why.
Releasing this information will show that the Federal Reserve's arguments for secrecy are -- and have always been -- a ruse, to cover up the handing out of hundreds of billions of dollars like party favors to the Wall Street favorites who brought the American economy to the brink of ruin.
But our work isn't quite done. The Senate audit provision isn't as strong as what we passed in the House. The Senate provision has only a one-time audit, whereas what we passed in the House would allow audits going forward. There will be a conference committee that will merge the provisions from the two bills.
The need for audits and oversight over Fed handouts going forward is great. The financial crisis isn't over, and neither are the Fed's secret bailouts. Earlier this week, the Federal Reserve announced it was going underwrite the Greek bailout by lending dollars to the central banks of Europe, England, and Japan. The loans may never be paid back, the Fed accepts the risk that the dollar will strengthen in the meantime, and the interest rate charged by the Fed is very likely at below-market rates. So such loans are in effect just a subsidy, to bail out foreigners.
The Fed has not been chastened. It is bolder and more of a rogue actor than ever. It's clear that without full audit authority going forward, the Fed will continue to give out "foreign aid" without Congressional or even Executive permission.
And it will do so in secret.
So we will be fighting on to get a full audit from the conference committee.
But let's not lose sight of what we have accomplished so far -- real independent inquiry into the Fed, and its incestuous relationships with Wall Street banks. For the first time ever.
Our calls, emails, lobbying, blogging, and support really mattered. We made it happen.
Today, we beat the Fed.
Follow Rep. Alan Grayson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alangrayson
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This is not "transparency" and will provide nothing of substance. We are not children, we see the fraud perpetrated by this Oligarchy and we demand a full AUDIT and END to the FED.
We, the Americans on Main Street, see the bribes, the fraud, the purchased politicians and we will ultimately hold each accountable for their actions in selling-out America.
Audit and End the FED to restore liberty and justice for all.
This, as a first step is "Good". Perfect seems to be unattainable. Gradualism is at play here when it comes to making changes that really benefit everyday folks.
It has cost a vast amount of treasure and blood. . . .
It has indeed been a trying hour for the Republic; but
I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes
me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war,
corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places
will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong
its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth
is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.
I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety
of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war.
God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless."
"These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert to fleece the people, and now that they have got into a quarrel with themselves, we are called upon to appropriate the people's money to settle the quarrel."
speech to Illinois legislature, Jan. 1837.
See Vol. 1, p. 24 of Lincoln's Complete Works,
ed. by Nicolay and Hay, 1905)
Lincoln saw it he couldn't stop it, by the grace of god can we?
and hope for a return fan so that we can network.
Does anyone realise that the Federal Reserve of New York is the 2nd largest holder of US government debt....with the 1st being China and the 3rd being Japan...one has to ask how is one of the Fed's systems banks owning US government debt.....
I think if the US government nationalised the Fed it would wipe out some 75% of the debt that is owed to who knows who.