Well, if you are like me, you are watching the Final Four this weekend with very little on the line.  First, the Buckeyes departure was very disappointing.  Second, if your brackets look anything like the one I filled out, you don't have to worry about winning any contests!  The games have been great this year but the outcomes weren't what I expected them to be!

I have been writing the last few months about some regulatory issues that have been coming out of Washington.  I have to admit, lately it has been quiet.  All the focus, as I'm sure you're aware, has been on health care.  So, the financial industry was off the hook for a little while.  However, now it appears we are front and center once again.

I have read a couple of things in the papers and trade magazines I get every month.  I thought I could tell you, at least, what is being discussed even though nothing has been decided.  First, the creation of a Consumer Protection Agency is high on the list.  I thought this was a dead issue but it appears to be back with a vengeance.  I fear this entity only from the thought that this will be a normal government agency where the people making the rules have no idea how the industry actually works.  This causes a lot of heartburn for those of us working it every day!

Second, it is being discussed that the banks should be taxed to pay for the bailouts.  I don't have a problem with this as long as it is the ones that actually received bail out money!

Last, there is a possible multi-billion dollar tax break for some of the financial institutions that bought failing entities in the last couple of years, most notably, Chase's purchase of Washington Mutual.  I read today that the FDIC no longer supports this tax break.  Who knows where this one is going!

It is just like the Health Care issue to me.  I do believe some changes are needed.  However, I don't believe politicians have any of the answers.  I hope we can eventually come together as a country and decide what is feasible and what isn't.  I believe in Americans and their ability to work themselves out of a mess, but this one is a whopper!  I encourage you to write your politicians and let them know what you think.  The more input they have, hopefully the better decisions they will make!

Enjoy your Easter weekend!