Financial Reform in Congress

--Wall Street Journal, A1, “Finance Bill Climax Looms,” by Jonathan Weisman and Damian Paletta: “President Barack Obama used a Manhattan speech to urge top banking executives to back his sweeping overhaul of financial-market rules … In Washington, senators intensified bipartisan negotiations aimed at producing legislation that could be supported by members in both parties. Timing for a possible agreement was uncertain, but … Chris Dodd (D., Conn.) and ... Richard Shelby … appeared committed to closing a deal. Internal GOP divisions improved Democrats' chances of securing another of their big domestic priorities: a bill they could tout as addressing the causes and aftermath of the financial crisis. A big test could come as soon as Monday, when Republicans likely will need all 41 of their senators to stop floor debate on the bill.”