Barney Frank(D):

  • Wants more socialist welfare state programs so the Federal Reserve is more free in manipulating the economy.
  • Thanks Bernanke for opening the discount window to Frannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
  • Excuses Bernanke of criticism for taking too long to act.

Ron Paul(R):

  • Brings up (again) that the Austrians predicted this years ago and yet no one bothers to listen to them.
  • Talks about inflation, its true source, that its actually a hidden tax. Calls Bernanke, as the Fed chair, the biggest taxer in the nation.
  • “Labor never keeps up with inflation.”
  • “What we are seeing here is the collapse of a dollar bubble that has building for the last 30 years.”

Michael Capuano(D):

  • Speaking to Bernanke: “You’ve been bold, contagious. You’ve been the leader … in helping this country. Among those who did is similar in the 1930’s.”
  • “To state that no action should be taken is obviously wrong.”

Donald Manzullo(R):

  • “The evidence for this housing bubble has been around for years. Why did it take the Fed so long to act? And why wait 15 months to implement new regulation?”

David Scott(D):

  • Where are the government incentives for biodiesel? In my own district there is a company doing it. It’s super. Bernanke, don’t you think we should create incentives?
  • Don’t you think we should send out more stimulus checks to people?

Other Random Congressmen:

  • “Chairman Bernanke, you are totally awesome. Good job. Other fawning praise!”

Ben Bernanke:

  • Wants to put more regulation on credit card issuers.
  • “The housing market is the center of these current problems.”
  • Responding to Paul: “I couldn’t agree with you more, inflation is a tax.”
  • “I have complete confidence, as we all should, in the FDIC in that they can cover the insured deposits.”
  • “Even if our forecasts aren’t good we have to take a stab.”