Fed Chairman

• Fed Chairman's Speech Sends Stocks Lower

NEW YORK - Stocks closed sharply lower Thursday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke offered no new insight into whether the central bank will act soon to prop up the economy. In a speech closely watched by investors, Bernanke said the Fed will consider a range of steps at its Sept. 20-21 meeting, but he offered no specific plans. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 100 points shortly after Bernanke's remarks began at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.

• Charleston Daily Mail
• September 09, 2011

• Fed Chairman Pessimistic

WASHINGTON -- Using words like "sluggish" and "deteriorated," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave a starkly pessimistic assessment of the nation's economy on Thursday and signaled that the Fed will cut interest rates further if needed to combat the adverse effects of a prolonged housing slump and a severe credit crisis. Both Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told a congressional hearing that the economy could still avert a full- blown recession, but Democrats said they believed the government should be doing much more to help millions of Americans cope with a threatened tidal wave of mortgage foreclosures.

• Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
• February 15, 2008

• The Next Fed Chairman

Selection of the Federal Reserve chairman has become the president's most critical financial appointment. This hasn't always been so. Even today, the treasury secretary outranks the Fed chairman. But the role of Fed chairman has grown dramatically in the post-World War II years and often overshadows the treasury secretary.

• The Washington Times
• September 06, 2005

• Fed Chairman Stands Up to a House Grilling ; Bernanke Takes Heat From Both Sides of Political Aisle

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke withstood a grilling Thursday from lawmakers on the far left and far right about his handling of the banking crisis last winter, displaying a grace and authority that likely will improve his chances of being reappointed in January. Mr. Bernanke's four-year term ends in 2010 and the capital is rife with speculation about whether President Obama, who has repeatedly voiced support for the Fed chairman, will give him another term.

• The Washington Times
• June 26, 2009

• Perry Draws Criticism for Remarks That Threatened Fed Chairman

Gov. Rick Perry proved he can play offense by threatening Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, but on Tuesday the Republican presidential candidate found himself playing defense as the White House and his Texas foes struck back. Speaking in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday, Perry was asked about Bernanke and his policy of quantitative easing, having the Federal Reserve buy Treasury securities as a way to stimulate the economy.

• Buffalo News
• August 17, 2011

• Bernanke Confirmed for Second Term ; Fed Chairman Ok'd by Closest Vote Ever.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Embattled Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke won confirmation for a second term yesterday, but only by the closest vote ever for the crucial post and after withering criticism from lawmakers for bailing out Wall Street while other Americans suffered in recession. The Senate confirmed Bernanke for a new four-year term by a 70- 30 vote, a seemingly solid majority but 14 votes worse than the closest previous vote for a Fed chairman.

• Columbia Daily Tribune
• July 30, 2010

• A trillion here, a trillion there ... time to audit the fed: even after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke testified that there would be no bailout of Greece, the Fed is offering a bailout overseas--ostensibly for Greece but likely for EU bankers.

The timing of the sellout by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) could not have been more politically auspicious--or more suspicious. For months the Senato...

• The New American
• June 07, 2010

• Fed Chairman Soft-Pedals Urgency of Reducing Spending, Raising Taxes

While repeating past warnings about the dire consequences of continuing to amass unsustainable debts, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke took a surprisingly conciliatory tone Wednesday in his latest testimony on budget issues before Congress. Out of concern for still-fragile financial markets and the budding economic recovery, the Fed chairman said Congress should start making plans for major cuts in deficits hovering over $1 trillion next year, after a presidential budget commission lays out recommendations. But it need not do anything drastic right away.

• The Washington Times
• June 11, 2010

• Sen. Christopher J. Dodd Hold a Media Availability Following a Closed Meeting with Fed Chairman Bernanke

SEN. DODD HOLDS A MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOLLOWING A CLOSED MEETING WITH FED CHAIRMAN BEN BERNANKE FEBRUARY 6, 2008 SPEAKER: SEN. CHRISTOPHER J. DO...

• Political Transcript Wire
• August 24, 2009

• Dump Bernanke ; Power has Corrupted the Thinking of the Fed Chairman

The Obama administration insists that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke must be reconfirmed for a second term or financial markets will panic. Other defenders, such as Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, claim that critics are scapegoating Mr. Bernanke for economic problems because they don't know whom else to blame. Both shots are off the mark. The Federal Reserve is a very powerful agency, and the truth of the matter is that Mr. Bernanke has abused that power. The Fed chairman should not be reconfirmed for another term. The canard that the world is about to end is getting old. Such fear-mongering has been used to justify huge bailouts and increases in government spending. These purported fixes have produced higher unemployment and higher national debt. Decisions made in pa...

• The Washington Times
• January 27, 2010