Washington People: Revealed: Rubin's Secret Plan For Alan Greenspan's

John D. Hawke, the new Treasury under secretary for domestic finance, used the occasion of his swearing-in last week to shed new light on recent Washington developments.

Turning to his boss, Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin, Mr. Hawke complimented him on the success of his most recent initiative: barring traffic from a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.

The traffic problems that have developed with the closing of Pennsylvania Avenue are a sore point for many Washingtonians, including some of those present. But it could have been worse, Mr. Hawke joked: The original plan called for a miniature golf course on the street.

"History would not have remembered you kindly for that," Mr. Hawke intoned.

Nor would the markets have looked kindly on another Rubin proposal, Mr. Hawke added: Appointing Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan surgeon general of the United States.

Mr. Greenspan, whose tight-money policies are highly controversial in an election-minded White House, smiled graciously from the corner of the room.

***

Rep. William Goodling, R-Pa., chairman of the House Education Committee, said he hopes to move a bill limiting the federal government's takeover of the student loan business by early August.

The Pennsylvania Republican said there is strong bipartisan support for the proposal, which would limit the amount of direct government student loans to 40%. This would thwart the Clinton administration's plan to nationalize the loan program by the year 2000.

"We should at least cap the program at 40% and then see if it is actually working," Rep. Goodling said. "We have no indication that rushing to take all the student loans is going to save us any money."

The committee chairman added that "common sense would tell you" servicing the $20 billion in student loans each year will cost the government much more than it is spending through the current bank-based loan system.

Rep. Goodling's comments came after a committee hearing on a House proposal to eliminate the Education Department, spreading its functions over six different departments.

***

Lisa M. Hafner, Washington representative for the Canadian Bankers Association, is the new president of Women in Housing and Finance, a professional association with over 600 members.

Elected vice president was Darina C. McKelvie, vice president of government relations for Citicorp. Eileen M. McCarthy, senior regulatory analyst for the Federal National Mortgage Association, won the secretary's job, while Alice Cho, program analyst for the Office of Management and Budget was elected treasurer.

Barbara Timmer, general counsel for ITT Corp., was named general counsel for the professional group.

The association's new president-elect is Mary Ellen Taylor, director of congressional relations for the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

Ms. Hafner joined the Canadian Bankers Association as its coordinator of public affairs in 1989 as executive assistant to the president. In 1990 she moved to the Washington to establish an office for the trade group.

She holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Brown University.

***

Robert S. McKew was named vice president of the American Financial Services Association, a trade group for finance and consumer credit companies. Mr. McKew, who joined the trade association in 1986 as federal regulatory representative, will retain his current of general counsel to the trade group.

Mr. McKew joined the trade group in 1986 as federal regulatory representative and was named associate counsel a year later. He became general counsel in 1993. He is a 1979 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and received a law degree in 1986 from Columbus School of Law, Catholic University.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER