Agencies have delayed Dodd-Frank rules due to successful court challenges, bipartisan concern over provisions covering everything from mortgages to agricultural derivatives, and just plain unrealistic deadlines in the statute.
But if it was a big bank, and if it was nationalised by a government such as Spain or Italy already perceived by many to have unsustainably large debts, then there could be serious contagion from the credit-worthiness of the bank to the credit-worthiness of the state: there would be an escalation of concern that the relevant government would be unable to repay everything it owes.
Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) is hoping the concern about bioterrorism will help spur creating a new, single agency to ensure everything Americans eat is held to the same safety standards.
Is there some concern in the administration that somehow this idea that you're not doing everything possible to keep the American people safe is something that's taking hold in the population?