House of Representatives

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  SEC to Get $136M Increase Under New Spending Bill for 2012

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  December 16, 2011

  Bipartisan deal to avert government shutdown includes $1.3 billion in funding for the SEC in 2012, but $25 million cut from Dodd-Frank reserve fund; extension of payroll tax cut still up in the air.

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  States Ready to Chip in to Boost Economic Recovery

  By Jack Herstein, NASAA  |  December 2, 2011

  All eyes are on the lingering effects of the 2008 financial meltdown, and federal policymakers are understandably anxious to find a formula that will revive the national economy and help bring unemployment levels down. The states are ready to help.

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  Wanna Beat the Market by 6.6%? Join Congress

  By Gil Weinreich, AdvisorOne  |  November 14, 2011

  A new study published this year finds a 6.6% annual market-beating advantage for members of the House between 1985 and 2001. Rep. Nancy Pelosi scored a 203% multimillion-dollar return on an IPO at a time when ordinary investors lost 15%...

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  Separate but Equal?

  By Bob Clark, AdvisorOne  |  October 1, 2011

  To hear Duane Thompson tell it, now that the Republicans have control of the House of Representatives, a bill authorizing a self-regulatory organization for investment advisors any time soon is unlikely.

• U.S. Government Shutdown Looms Again

  By Marlene Y. Satter, AdvisorOne  |  September 22, 2011

  In a surprise outcome on Wednesday, the House of Representatives failed to pass a bill needed to fund the federal government past Sept. 30.

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  The Wall Street Journal’s Contribution to the Fiduciary Argument

  By Bob Clark, AdvisorOne  |  August 30, 2011

  A WSJ editorial on retirement plan protection is the best argument why all financial advisors who advise retail customers should be subject to a fiduciary standard.

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  From D.C. Insider Duane Thompson, Some Optimism for Independent Advisors

  By Bob Clark, AdvisorOne  |  August 16, 2011

  A conversation with FPA's former chief lobbyist gives me some hope that independent advisors will stay independent of Wall Street and FINRA.

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  Debt Limit Increase Fails in Congress in Largely Symbolic Vote

  By John Sullivan, AdvisorOne  |  May 31, 2011

  The House overwhelmingly rejected President Barack Obama's call to increase the $14.3 trillion debt limit without conditions, by a vote of 318-97. Even some Democrats supporting Obama's position voted against it.

• The Polar Bears

  By Bob Clark, AdvisorOne  |  May 1, 2011

  I don’t usually write about politics, except when it has a direct impact on financial advice, and this appears to be one of those times.

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  House Passes Ryan FY2012 Budget Plan

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  April 15, 2011

  The House passed by a vote of 235-193 on Friday the FY2012 spending bill put forth by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., which would cut $5.8 trillion in spending over 10 years.