“The White House has tapped Elizabeth Warren as a special adviser to help set up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, ABC News is reporting. The move allows her to act as an interim head of the CFPB and will enable her to begin setting up the agency immediately and prevent the GOP from filibustering her nomination. Warren could serve until Obama nominates a permanent director -- a nomination he's not required to make for some time. Obama could also nominate her as the permanent director in the near future, a prospect that has been discussed among top aides, according to a person familiar with the White House deliberations. Warren will also be named as a special adviser directly to Obama, ABC reported.
A senior Democratic congressional aide with knowledge of the decision confirmed the ABC report to HuffPost.
The CFPB was a cornerstone of President Obama's Wall Street reform package and Warren is credited as the intellectual founder of the agency. The ability of the administration to nominate an acting director indefinitely was first reported by HuffPost in July.
On Tuesday, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the Banking Committee, said that such an interim appointment could create a backlash and lead the next Congress to defund the bureau. On Friday, Simon Johnson laid out the case for an interim appointment.”…cont…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/white-house-to-tap-warren_n_715291.html