SEC under Schapiro struggles to turn around amid political, financial head winds
David S. Hilzenrath
Washington Post, 7 October 2011
Mary L. Schapiro took over a discredited SEC in early 2009 and vowed to rebuild it.
She promised tougher enforcement — “war without quarter” on financial fraud. Modernized rules to keep up with Wall Street. And a new, more effective organization.
Her tenure at the federal agency responsible for protecting investors and policing markets offers a Washington lesson: Even when epic crises create a sense of urgency, it is tough to tighten the reins on powerful industries. Dramatic results can prove elusive.