Sixteen votes to six abstentions and one vote against. Ben Bernanke looks set to retain the reins of the U.S. central bank for a second term after voting to approve the Banking Committee U.S. Senate on Thursday. However, to formally renew its functions during the next four years, this decision must still be validated by the full Senate. However, this is quite good for Ben Bernanke, already distinguished yesterday by Time magazine as "Person of the Year" because of its good management of the crisis.
The measures taken by the Fed chief has also been welcomed by the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. Christopher Dodd has said that "can be attributed to Mr. Bernanke some credit for its crucial role in the events of last fall.Had he not, with others, including some on the committee acted at a critical time for our country, we would have a very different and far more catastrophic. "
In this concert of praise, some voices are discordant. Republican Senator Jim Bunning, who did not hide his disapproval of the continuation of Ben Bernanke, has mocked the distinction of Time, stating it had been previously awarded to Joseph Stalin, Yasser Arafat or even Adolf Hitler. " "I hope that Ben Bernanke will run better than they" wished Jim Burning. The independent senator from left, Bernie Sanders, not a member of the Banking Committee, has even questioned the president Barack Obama asking him to reconsider his decision last August to extend Ben Bernanke to head Fed.Despite these protests, Ben Bernanke should be renewed without a hitch.
"Ben Bernanke, voted" Personality of the Year "by Time