Senate to Name Reg Reform Panel

Setting the stage for the next phase of regulatory reform legislation, the Senate was expected to name members of a conference committee late Monday to work out differences between its bill and the House version.

Although the list was still in flux by press time, the Senate was expected to appoint seven Democrats and five Republicans. Among the Democrats, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln, Sens. Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Mark Warner of Virginia and Tom Harkin of Iowa are expected to be named.

Republican conferees are expected to include Sens. Richard Shelby and Saxby Chambliss, the respective Republicans on the Banking and Agriculture panels.

The House is not expected to name its conferees until after the Memorial Day recess, although House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank is widely expected to chair the conference.