Klobuchar to back second Bernanke term; Franken undecided

Ben Bernanke. Photo: WDCpix

Updated: Sen. Amy Klobuchar will vote in favor of a second term for Fed Chair Ben Bernanke when it comes up for a full Senate vote tomorrow. Sen. Al Franken’s office told the Minnesota Independent late last week that he’s still “undecided.” Meanwhile, senators from neighboring states, including Iowa’s Chuck Grassley and Wisconsin’s Russ Feingold, will oppose re-upping Bernanke’s term.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scheduled the confirmation vote for Thursday, a move that signals he thinks he’s got enough votes — 60 senators — to block a threatened filibuster. (A Dow Jones Newswire tally released yesterday shows expected votes.)

But it’s unclear if Sen. Al Franken is among them. In an email on Friday, Franken spokesperson Jess McIntosh said, “Franken’s really concerned about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency [and] wants to make sure there’s a robust one included in financial reg reform. His vote could turn on that.”

In a follow-up email on Wednesday, McIntosh clarified, “[Franken would] want an assurance that a strong CFPA is part of the plan for financial reg reform before he could give Bernanke his support.”