Reliably Austin
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dallas Fed Chief: "Our Nation's Prosperity at Risk"

The head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas says low interest rates have provided the American private sector with "the financial means to grow employment" but not the incentive to do so. He says that reluctance to hire people and buy equipment is driven by uncertainty over taxes and the national deficit. The Dallas bank is one of twelve regional banks that are part of the Federal Reserve system. 

"I personally don't care what party is in the White House," Richard Fisher said during a luncheon hosted by the Austin Chamber of Commerce. "I don't care what party controls the Congress. All I know is that the so-called 'honorable' members of Congress and presidents past, Republicans and Democrats alike, have conspired over time, however unwittingly, to drive fiscal policy and this nation into a ditch."

Fisher's speech contains much of the impenetrable technocratic jargon you might expect from a Fed official, but it's punctuated with short bursts of clarity, and makes for an informative watch if you have 20 minutes to spare. Thanks to our friends at the Texas Tribunefor posting the video online. 

 

Nathan Bernier is the transportation reporter at KUT. He covers the big projects that are reshaping how we get around Austin, like the I-35 overhaul, the airport's rapid growth and the multibillion dollar transit expansion Project Connect. He also focuses on the daily changes that affect how we walk, bike and drive around the city. Got a tip? Email him at nbernier@kut.org. Follow him on Twitter @KUTnathan.