Obstacle 83-02:
Mnuchin(M) is a nomiee of the TreasureSecretary by Trump and the main architect of incoming Trump's currency policy.He defended his own record as a founder of Onewest amid the housing crash, andpushed the tax reform as the key way to lift economy if he wasconfirmed. He pointed out what matters is to keep the US dollar astrong currency in the long term. After Trump proclaimed thatUS dollar is 'too strong' during an interview. M said the short-termsituation caused by the president-elect that free market wanting to invest inUS may have negative effect on Americans' abilities in trade. Though arguingthat US need to cut down tax fraud and evasion, he asserted his use ofoffshore accounts was to assist non-profits but not to evade tax. The incoming administrations’ plan to boosteconomy is to pass the tax reform, reducing the corporate tax rate and reducingthe tax brackets. M also talked about rasing debt ceiling and how the administrationwould work with the Congress. With economic growth and chances to pay debt, theUS could decrease their high debt. About International field, M said they will stick on the current sanctions and additionalpolicies will be applied if necessary. Since the opposite party, Democraticslacked votes to block M's appointment, they underscored M's past in thehearing, including allegations of unfair lending and foreclosure practices when M was at OneWest.
In the hearing M clarified his record, saying that he and other investors saved thefailing institution and salvaged jobs. Facing the Democrats' censure that hedidn't expose certain details of his asstes in the initial questionnaire to theSenate, M replied he did so on guidance of lawyers and did report after realizingit. Independent assessments spoke highly of the OneWest dealings,and no signs manifested M involved in the housing crisis, let alone aggravatedit. Currently a memeber of Democrat delivered remarks alleging M evaded UStaxes via offshore hedge funds, an accusation denied by M. |