<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://clantilyscad.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[scandalousmuffin]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://clantilyscad.com/author/scandalousmuffin/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Financial Reform passes.  Investment Firms are still&nbsp;Dicks.]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/21/goldman-sachs-spends-40-p_n_654149.html">Via HuffPo</a>.  Facing Fraud allegations from the SEC, Goldman Sachs increased lobbying by 40% in the second quarter.</p>
<p>Rundown of important points in the Wall Street Reform Bill now law:</p>
<ul>
<li>The Emergency Mortgage Relief  program makes more than $1 billion in federal funds available to  families about to lose their homes.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Retailers may not exceed $10 as the credit card minimum.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If a lender turns down your application for  credit because of your credit score, the lender is required to tell you  what your credit score is for free.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A new independent watchdog, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, will be created to  regulate loan products ranging from credit cards to mortgages.  Pawn brokers and auto dealers  are exempt.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A new national toll free number for consumer complaints on  products and services will be created.</li>
</ul>
<p><img src="https://i1.wp.com/newsone.com/files/2010/07/loan-shark-570x476.jpg" alt="loan-shark-570x476" width="359" height="300" /></p>
<ul>
<li>NO MORE TAXPAYER BAILOUTS.  Limits excessive company growth and complexity, limits Fed lending, sets guidelines for an orderly liquidation process, and requires companies to go through normal bankruptcy procedures.</li>
</ul>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been an advocate since the start of regulatory reform and am  quite pleased we&#8217;re moving forward,&#8221; Citibank CEO Vikram Pandit said. &#8220;The ultimate impact won&#8217;t  be clear until we know all of the details, but we have been managing  the business and selling assets in line with the principles of reform.&#8221;</p>
<p>He  added that <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/15/news/economy/whats_in_the_reform_bill/index.htm?postversion=2010071515">the  bill</a>, which calls for most derivatives to be bought and sold on  clearinghouses and exchanges, won&#8217;t have a major impact on much of its  derivatives business.</p>
<p><a href="http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;q=cache:3O5aj-YRpjoJ:banking.senate.gov/public/_files/FinancialReformSummary231510FINAL.pdf+financial+reform+bill+summary&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;pid=bl&amp;srcid=ADGEESg65op-Rw-NYUpALHn3GYkzHo0I9wRbpnpO7xF-g17HJLm2Z8ZxjkYnnZxrAgU0Y-E7r21rMLbs9UTumQS-4CYwK0nn8HJEygFQQUvCdnAyiEY9ls-9mwNxahtJjX7n2N5r-b11&amp;sig=AHIEtbS7HJUksfJ7HWWCg9h7n3FSxjy3Dg">More points from a Senate Committee here.</a></p>
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