Democrat Chris Dodd, the Senate Banking Committee Chairman, Is Retiring

Democrat Chris Dodd, the Connecticut senator who wants to weaken the Fed and name a top financial cop, is expected to announce his decision to not seek reelection in 2010 at a press conference today, according to a report in the Washington Post. His popularity has waned, especially since it became pubic that he obtained two discounted VIP mortgages from Countrywide during the real estate boom. A Senate ethics panel later cleared Dodd of breaking rules by taking the mortgages, but its report said he should have done more to avoid the appearance of sweetheart deals.