Overthepasttwoyears,we’vewonanumberofbattlestodefendtheinterestsofthemiddleclass.OneofthemostimportantvictoriesweachievedwasthepassageofWallStreetReform.Thiswasabilldesignedtoreininthesecretdealsandrecklessgamblingthatnearlybroughtdownthefinancialsystem.Itsetnewrulessothattaxpayerswouldneveragainbeonthehookforabailoutifabigfinancialcompanywentunder.Andreformincludedthestrongestconsumerprotectionsinhistory–toputanendtoalotofthehiddenfees,deceptivemortgages,andotherabusivepracticesusedtotiltthetablesagainstordinarypeopleintheirfinancialdealingsItwasatoughfight.Thespecialinterestspouredmillionsintoalobbyingcampaigntopreventusfromreformingthesystem–asystemthatworkedalotbetterforthemthanformiddleclassfamilies.Someinthefinancialindustrywereeagertoprotectastatusquothatbasicallyallowedthemtoplaybytheirownrules.AndtheseinterestsheldcommoncausewithRepublicanleadersinWashingtonwhowerelookingtoscoreapoliticalvictoryinanelectionyear.Buttheireffortsfailed.Andwesucceededinpassingreforminthehopesofensuringthatweneveragainfaceacrisisliketheonewe’vebeenthrough–acrisisthatunleashedaneconomicdownturnasdeepasanysincetheGreatDepression.Eventoday,wearestilldiggingoutofthedamageitunleashedontheeconomy.Millionsofpeoplearestilloutofwork.Millionsoffamiliesarestillhurting.We’realsoseeingthereverberationsofthiscrisiswiththeriseinforeclosures.Andrecently,we’veseenproblemsinforeclosureproceedings–mistakesthathaveledtodisruptionsinthehousingmarkets.ThisisonlyonemorepieceofevidenceastowhyWallStreetReformissonecessary.Infact,aspartofreform,anewconsumerwatchdogisnowstandingup.Itwillhavejustonejob:lookingoutforordinaryconsumersinthefinancialsystem.Andthiswatchdogwillhavetheauthoritytoguardagainstunfairpracticesinmortgagetransactionsandforeclosures.Yetdespitetheimportanceofthislaw–anddespitetheterribleeconomicdislocationcausedbythefailuresinourfinancialsystemundertheoldrules–topRepublicansinCongressarenowbeatingthedrumtorepealallofthesereformsandconsumerprotections.Recently,oneoftheRepublicanleadersin