Hensarling says Congress might bypass him on Ex-Im
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) said it’s “certainly possible” for Congress to sidestep his committee in order to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, despite his staunch opposition.
“It’s certainly possible. I have been unpleasantly surprised before as a member of Congress. I could get unpleasantly surprised again,” he told The Hill in an interview.
{mosads}Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has signaled that he’s open to reauthorizing the bank, which enjoys support from the business community, establishment Republicans and most Democrats. The 80-year-old bank’s charter expires June 30.
“We’ll continue to listen to our members and we’ll continue to debate, but right now I think the momentum is on [our] side,” Hensarling said.
When pressed about whether he would move any type of reauthorization bill through his panel, the Texas Republican said the majority of his committee doesn’t support the bank.
“I don’t see where the votes are for that,” Hensarling said during an interview on Thursday. “My question is, ‘Are we still transferring credit risk from Fortune 50 balance sheets to hardworking taxpayers’ balance sheets?'”
Earlier Friday, Hensarling met with his committee’s Republicans to discuss the bank’s fate, though nothing was decided on how he would proceed.
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