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Clinton regrets Fed appointments delayed by Congress

WASHINGTON: President Bill Clinton said on Wednesday he regretted the Senate was holding up approval for his nominee to the Federal Reserve Board.

Asked by a reporter at a news conference if he expected the two empty slots on the Fed Board of Governors to be filled this year, Clinton said:

"Well I don't know. I hope that the Senate will continue to move forward on the appointments. They (the Senate) are approving a smaller percentage of nominees than is customary when the president is of one party and the Senate majority is of another and I think that's regrettable."

The Clinton administration has named Carol Parry, a former banking executive with extensive experience in community affairs, to fill one of two empty slots on the Fed Board of Governors.

No name has been put forward yet for a second empty slot, created when Governor Roger Ferguson was named vice-chairman.-Reuters