Bush to Nominate Paredes to SEC

The Bush administration nominated Troy Paredes, a law professor from Washington University in St. Louis, to fill a Republican commissioner slot at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If he is confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Paredes would fill the seat vacated by Paul Atkins, who announced Monday his intention to leave the agency.

Also Tuesday, the White House said it would fill three vacant commissioner seats at the Federal Election Commission, which is responsible for enforcing campaign-finance laws. That agency has nearly ground to a halt as it has operated with only two of six commissioners and lacked the ability to provide binding guidance or impose fines during the most competitive -- and expensive -- election cycle in decades. The nominations for the FEC and SEC suggest that a logjam between the Bush administration and Senate Democrats over dozens of empty federal seats is giving way.

Mr. Paredes's appointment moves the SEC closer to full strength. The agency has been operating with three Republican commissioners since February, after two Democrats left their seats. In recent weeks the White House nominated two Democrats to fill the vacancies. The Senate hasn't set a date for their confirmation hearings. ...

•	Bush to Nominate Paredes to SEC The Wall Street Journal, Wednesday, May 7, 2008 Byline: Kara Scannell and Joann S. Lublin

	Story also ran in 2 others:  Financial News (UK) and CNNMoney.com