Lawmakers Call Out Bernanke After Feds Force Bank To Remove Crosses

[meegbear]

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas issued a joint letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday over what the two view as a "distressing interpretation of Federal Reserve Regulation B" concerning a bank in Perkins.

Federal Reserve action prompted the letter from Inhofe and Lucas after they were contacted by bank officials seeking help in dealing with the interpretation that possibly contradicts other U.S. laws and violates fundamental constitutional protections.

"This is an all-out assault on the faith, values and rights of the bank, its employees and the people of Perkins they serve," Inhofe said. "It is absolutely ridiculous for the regulation to be interpreted this way, and it unduly discriminates against a person’s faith in Christ and their constitutionally protected freedom to publicly express that faith. It is simply another case of liberals in Washington overstepping their bounds and intruding in the lives of individuals. I expect the Federal Reserve to rectify this situation quickly."

Lucas also responded and said, "The recent actions taken by the Federal Reserve at Payne County Bank are of great concern to me. I do not agree with its interpretation of Regulation B in this circumstance and believe that it infringes upon fundamental constitutional rights afforded to all Americans. I encourage the Federal Reserve to review the situation and take the appropriate action to address it."

The examiners came to Perkins last week. And the team from Kansas City deemed a Bible verse of the day, crosses on the teller’s counter and buttons that say "Merry Christmas, God With Us." were inappropriate. The Bible verse of the day on the bank's Internet site also had to be taken down. The bank was told by the Federal Reserve examiner that providing a link to the Bible verse constituted a violation of Regulation B, pursuant to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

The bank was told that failure to comply would result in referral of the matter to the Department of Justice for further enforcement actions.

http://www.koco.com/r/26174849/detail.html

[RKP5637]

1. Well then, an artifact from every religion in the world should be in the bank if they

want one ...

[jdlh8894]

3. And why is that? Pray tell?n/t

[RKP5637]

4. Represent them all or none IMO. n/t

[Statistical]

5. So you represent all religions on your private property? n/t

[RKP5637]

7. Not me, I want none. n/t

[Statistical]

9. So you discriminate against the display of religious material on your private property.

In essence promoting lack of religion (Atheism or Agnosticism) over any particular (or all) religions.

Of course this is your right. You should be allowed to do this and the government shouldn't be able to interfere with your decision.
So the rules that apply to your private property shouldn't apply to other private property?

[RKP5637]

12. Gets back to private versus public property and if that line is crossed when

conducting public business. IMO it's a muddy area. Who determines what is the appropriate material to be displayed or not... the owner, all of the employees, an individual, a vote ... etc.

[RKP5637]

13. #8 was an interesting post. I too would rather see the corrupt banking

business cleaned up ...

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Is a bank a private institute of business or a government agency?

If a business has to follow government regulations, does that make it a franchise of the government?

[Statistical]

6. If that is the definition of government agency then everything is a government agency.

Including you.

[TexasObserver]

8. Banks are privately owned institutions engaging in interstate commerce.

If the owner of a bank wants to hang a crucifix over the front door, as far I'm concerned, it's their business. The public can take that into account when doing business.

No one has to do business with any bank, particularly not in these times, when online banking is an option.

If a bank wants to have a nativity scene, that's their business. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to do business with that bank.

The Feds need to worry about all the thieving the big banks do, and stop worrying out what citizens in mid America are saying to each other at Christmas time.

[Statistical]

10. +1. The sad irony is with all the problems the banks have, this is what Fed is spending time on.

[4dsc]

11. Of course this is Oklahoma..

I swear these ignorant people are living in a different time and place than most Americans.

[Bandit]

14. When did Bernanke become a Liberal

:shrug: Inhofe who was "Outraged at the Outrage" over the USA torturing people..seems to think even some big Consevatives that don't agree with him have to be "liberals"..

[snagglepuss]

15. Would this affect Islamic banking?