I was kidding! – US Congressman hits back at NBR
US Congressman Brad Sherman's staff have been in contact with NBR, claiming his comments were a joke.
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US Congressman Brad Sherman’s deputy chief of staff has contacted NBR over comments the Congressman made last week.
The comments were made when US Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen was testifying in front of Congress last week.
Mr Sherman told Ms Yellen to consider keeping interest rates on hold until May because “it’s God’s plan.”
“God’s plan is not for things to rise in the autumn. As a matter of fact, that’s why we call it fall. Nor is it God’s plan for things to rise in the winter through the snow.
“God’s plan is for things to rise in the spring. So if you want to be good with the Almighty, you might want to delay until May,” he said.
The comments were referenced in a story about the possibility of a US rate hike in December.
Mr Sherman’s deputy chief of staff Ben Fishel says he wanted to “clarify [Mr Sherman’s] tongue-in-cheek comments.”
“He was definitely joking. He made the same joke when Mrs Yellen came in July but it didn’t get as much attention,” he said, referring to the last time Ms Yellen testified in front of Congress.
Mr Sherman has since Tweeted, “I don't actually think God has an opinion on monetary policy, but if She did, She would agree that the FOMC shouldn't increase rates in winter.”
Asked why Mr Sherman would make jokes like this at all during a Fed chairperson's testimony as it may be considered inappropriate, Mr Fishel says perhaps that's true.
"One could argue that there is never room for levity during our work in Congress but I would disagree with that," he says.
"Incidentally he was serious in conveying to Mrs Yellen that he believes interest rate increases should be delayed – and his joking comments seems to have brought more attention to the issue," he says.
US Congressman Sherman's "joke," at 1.45.
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Jason Walls
Tue, 10 Nov 2015
Tue, 10 Nov 2015
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I was kidding! – US Congressman hits back at NBR
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