WASHINGTON–Senate Banking Committee action on its version of financial services reform will begin Monday, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of the committee, said Monday.
He said he hopes to be able to send the legislation to the Senate floor by March 26, when the Senate leaves for a 10-day Easter recess.
At the same time, Republican members of the committee pledged to work with Dodd to draft a bipartisan bill they could support, but cautioned they want the committee to act deliberately when considering the measure.
In a statement early Monday morning, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said he believed a bipartisan consensus could be reached. He added in a television interview that he believed there was “85 to 90 percent agreement already.”
Dodd responded that that “might be a little optimistic,” but welcomed the sentiment. He said markup of the legislation will begin next Monday in the committee and proceed throughout the week with a goal of completion before the Easter recess.