GOP Contemplates Course On Financial Regulatory Reform

It's time for the GOP to decide how they're going to deal with another impending Democratic policy push. Rumors of tackling financial regulatory reform have gone from a whisper to a roar after Banking Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) passed the legislation out of his committee last month and started angling for GOP support. Now, the GOP is deciding whether or not they should give it.

If the GOP doesn't give their support, they're at risk of appearing too favorable to Wall Street during a time of high unemployment, as today's Roll Call report points out. But perhaps that lack of support could go another way; opposing Democratic policies has proven to be a successful campaign strategy, not to mention, the right thing to do.

If the GOP does lend their support, they could be included in the bill's construction, which appeals to many prominent Republicans. They could also could spin their bipartisan overtures into a jobs-friendly message, albeit one accomplished by working with Dems.