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Geithner to Bankers: Crackdown Is 'War'

Treasury secretary tells Wall Street it must accept regulation

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 28, 2009 7:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Tim Geithner had tough words for Wall Street bankers yesterday, telling the financial industry's annual conference that they had no credibility to protest new regulation. The Treasury secretary said government had a responsibility to crack down on dangerous practices on the Street and design new laws allowing seizures of institutions deemed too big to fail. "It's a war of necessity, not a war of choice," said Geithner. "And it's a just war."

Geithner also said the government might extend unemployment benefits and introduce "targeted" economic programs, but he stopped short of calling for a second stimulus, saying much of February's package is still taking effect. He also dismissed suggestions that the dollar was losing its global supremacy and could be superseded by an international currency. "I think the dollar will remain the principal reserve currency for a long period of time," he said.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner speaks during the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association conference, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in New York.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner speaks during the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association conference, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in New York.   (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner speaks during the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association conference, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in New York.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner speaks during the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association conference, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in New York.   (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
northeast
Oct 29, 2009 8:13 AM CDT
No, I'm saying Geithner is bad at his job.
northeast
Oct 28, 2009 12:43 PM CDT
...and he has no credibility to be the one to impose it. Has he forgotten his performance before the White House, in NY?
MrBisme
Oct 28, 2009 11:04 AM CDT
Don't like banks? Don't use 'em. Then again, why take responsibility for your own life when you could pawn it off onto the government. All this whining about banks making money is ridiculous. Targeted regulation violates the spirit of the constitution and of competition. Outlawing practices is fine, but targeting specific banks or people is completely wrong. It's roughly equivalent to saying that Fondue should go to jail for being an ass, but nobody else (even though we're all asses).

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