WASHINGTON,
March 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to confirm William
Pulte
to serve as the next director of the regulator charged with
overseeing housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
By
a vote of 56 to 43, the Senate confirmed Pulte's nomination, clearing
the way for him to lead the
Federal Housing Finance Agency, a housing
finance watchdog that will play a central role in any effort to return
Fannie and Freddie to private control.
Senate confirms Pulte as top housing regulator, with market's future at stake
Pulte
will have oversight of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,
which have been in government conservatorship for more than 16 years
The Senate on Thursday voted 56-43 to confirm Bill Pulte as the nation's top housing regulator, putting him at the center of a fight over the future of two government-controlled companies that prop up half the residential mortgage market.
