Similar proposals have been launched in the past but have always been shot down largely because of business opposition. Do you think it will be different this time?
I'm looking forward to a robust public debate of our proposal, once it is released. I don't want to prejudge how anyone will react to the proposal.
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Many investors say they're disillusioned with the stock market, believing both Wall Street and Main Street to be corrupt. Is this a concern for the SEC?
The SEC is the only federal agency whose primary function is protecting investors' interests. We take this charge seriously and are committed to restoring investors' confidence in the integrity and fundamental fairness of the U.S. markets.
By reinvigorating the SEC and enhancing our enforcement efforts, I believe we can help to restore investor confidence. Already since I've been at the agency, we have streamlined our enforcement procedures for initiating investigations, begun the process of hiring new skill sets to keep pace with the financial products of the day, and created an active agenda to propose new rules that would fill the regulatory gaps that came to light as a result of the financial crisis.
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kathykristof24@gmail.com
