The partisan gridlock in Washington combined with a slow moving vetting process has led to many of the key posts in the Obama Administration remaining vacant. Even as the administration asks for more power to police the internet and meddle in other country’s affairs abroad it lacks the staff to meet current responsibilities.

Treasury Secretary Lew goes to Berlin. Mr. Lew encourages Europeans to reduce their austerity measures because they are ruining their economies. He wants Europeans to spur their demand or spending. That is a good suggestion.

Despite a slew of damaging revelations Jack Lew has been confirmed by the Senate. With a 71-26 vote Lew received more Republican support than Chuck Hagel. On some level Lew’s easy confirmation is a testament to how much influence Wall Street has in Washington but it still is interesting to compare the two nominations and their confirmation fights when you look at the actual evidence.

President Obama’s Treasury Secretary nominee not only worked for the Citigroup hedge fund that shorted the housing market, invested in off-shore tax havens, and took a nice bonus from TARP money – he had a provision written into his employment contract that encouraged him to return to government service.

Treasury Secretary nominee Jack Lew made a stunning and fantastic claim at his confirmation hearing, namely that the Too Big To Fail or systemic risk threat from the mega banks no longer existed. That the problem had been solved by the Dodd-Frank legislation.

Seriously.

Treasury Secretary nominee Jack Lew went before the Senate Finance Committee today for his confirmation hearing. The hearing was mostly deferential with Lew finding considerable agreement with the Republicans on the committee, particularly on trade and corporate tax policy, but Lew did face questions over his bonuses at Citigroup and tax shelters in the Cayman Islands.

Jack Lew’s nomination for Treasury Secretary was already proving to be contentious but now questions are being raised on Lew’s personal financial activities. Lew reportedly made an offshore investment in the Cayman Islands that may have been an attempt to avoid taxes.

After a global financial crisis, an epic price fixing scandal, and embarrassing criminal conduct British regulators are considering ending Too Big To Fail Banking. British Finance Minister George Osborne has proposed legislation that if banks do not shield their riskier investment activities from day to day banking they will face restructuring.

When President Obama announced Jack Lew’s nomination for Treasury Secretary he promised Lew would help bring people together, I doubt this is what he meant.

ack Lew, veteran of Citigroup and current White House Chief of Staff, will be our next Treasury Secretary.