Illinois Senator Mark Kirk suffered a stroke about a year ago. He is only 53 years old, was an active member of the Navy Reserves and worked out regularly, so it was, to say the least, a surprise. After a
Dodd-Frank Two Years Later, Part I
September 24, 2012
by Ken Wexler, Founder and Managing Partner
I spoke recently at the annual conference of the National Association of State Treasurers (“NAST”). The panel I was on was directed to Dodd-Frank and the impact of its financial reforms two years after the Act became law. I’m going
Unhappily Musing on the “News”
January 19, 2012
by Ken Wexler, Founder and Managing Partner
It always amazes me how editors of newspapers can mold public opinion merely by the wording of headline and the placement of a story. The New York Times today gave me another reminder of this insidious practice and ability. If
Republicans Block Another Obama Nominee, Consumers Suffer Another Blow
December 16, 2011
by Ken Wexler, Founder and Managing Partner
On Thursday, Dec. 8, in a 53 to 45 vote, Senate Republicans blocked the nomination of Richard Cordray as the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Despite Cordray’s backing by 37 of the nation’s Democratic and Republican Attorneys General,
What’s Wrong With THIS Picture? Emasculating the SEC is NOT Good for the Country
June 23, 2011
by Ken Wexler, Founder and Managing Partner
I picked up the Financial Times this morning. Like the Wall Street Journal, it has a series of short paragraphs (blurbs) in a column on the left-hand side of the first page. The top one was headlined: “Tennessee Bank Agrees
Strict Construction My Eye: Supreme Court Blows by Seventh Amendment
June 22, 2011
by Ken Wexler, Founder and Managing Partner
On June 20, 2011, the United States Supreme Court took another sledgehammer to the right to a jury trial guaranteed by the 7th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Maybe sledgehammer is too strong of an image, because in reality,
On Public Pensions
March 04, 2011
by Ken Wexler, Founder and Managing Partner
Unless you have been unconscious for the past month, you know that the Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, who – like others claiming the mantle of the Tea Party — is financed by the Koch Brothers, has introduced legislation intended
NY Mets and JP Morgan Sued for Alleged Ties with Madoff
March 02, 2011
by Ken Wexler, Founder and Managing Partner
Bernie Madoff bankruptcy trustee Irving Picard, who is attempting to recover assets for the victims of Madoff’s illustrious ponzi scheme, has sued the New York Mets and JP Morgan Chase for their roles in connection with the scheme. The suit
Hall of Shame: Illinois Director of Insurance Michael T. McRaith – A Postscript
February 28, 2011
by Ken Wexler, Founder and Managing Partner
On December 2, 2010, I commented on the outrageous conduct of Illinois’ Director of Insurance Michael T. McRaith. He had “settled” the investigation of a life insurance broker (Merrill Lynch Life Agency) for $18 million, requiring funeral directors across the
