Washington People: Regulators Check Out for Their Summer Breaks

Summer is here and the regulators are vacationing.

Comptroller of the Currency Eugene A. Ludwig and his family just took off for a three-week sojourn in France. Ricki Helfer, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., is taking a few days off this week but plans to stay in town. Jonathan Fiechter, acting director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, spent last week cycling 50 to 100 miles a day, touring Virginia's Civil War battlefields.

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The June 26 edition of The Hill, a weekly newspaper on Congress, explores whether Rep. Jim Leach can retain his House Banking Committee chairmanship.

The newspaper reported that House GOP leaders are ticked off at Rep. Leach for failing to bring major banking legislation to the floor. Also, the moderate Republican is in hot water with party leaders for bucking the GOP on key issues, including voting to increase the minimum wage and supporting a $4 billion increase in nondiscretionary defense spending.

Rep. Leach's problems have led to talk of a "coup" by senior Republicans on the panel, the newspaper reported. The most likely candidate: Rep. Bill McCollum, R-Fla., the committee's second-ranking Republican.

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The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has tapped Michael L. Brosnan to serve as acting senior deputy comptroller for capital markets.

Mr. Brosnan, a career national bank examiner who joined the Comptroller's Office in 1983, is director of the agency's Treasury and market risk division. He will replace Douglas E. Harris until a permanent senior deputy comptroller is hired. Mr. Harris resigned June 21.

The agency also named Barbara C. Healey deputy comptroller for the central district. The 27-year agency veteran most recently served as the administrator of the midwestern district. Ms. Healey replaces Leann G. Britton, who became senior deputy comptroller for supervision operations in March.

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America's Community Bankers has added a new senior economist. Paul C. Taylor, the former chief economist for Sen. Paul Coverdell, R-Ga., will head the thrift trade group's economics and research department. He replaces Bob Davis, who quit the trade group in April only to rejoin in May as its head lobbyist.

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Martin L. Heger, president of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, will head the group that coordinates policy among the 12 district banks. The president's conference, which comprises the 12 bank presidents, meets periodically to attempt to reach consensus on issues affecting the Home Loan banks. Mr. Heger will take over the seat in July, replacing Alex J. Pollock, president of the Chicago bank.

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