Later today, President Obama is scheduled to give a highly anticipated speech on the topic of banking reform. According to the White House, the President wants Wall Street to know that he is not hoping to fight them, but work with them to reform the banking industry.
Obama will give the speech at Cooper Union in New York, and as this CNN Money article explains, he is going to proclaim his support for legislation in both houses of Congress aimed at reforming the banking industry. The President will reportedly claim the bills represent "significant improvement on the flawed rules we have in place today."
Obama said he's sure many of the lobbyists working to defeat the measure are acting on behalf of the Wall Street firms represented by members of the audience.
"But I am here today because I want to urge you to join us, instead of fighting us in this effort," said the president. "I am here because I believe these reforms are, in the end, not only in the best interest of our country, but in the best interest of our financial sector."
The speech has prompted some hand-wringing in the investment world this week. Senior officials in the Obama administration told CNN that top bankers have called the White House recently to express concerns about "how bad" the speech would be for Wall Street.
