4/23/09: Employees at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recently received the news that their maximum public transportation subsidies would be increased from $120 to $230, effective June 1, 2009. This increased benefit was provided for in the economic stimulus bill signed into law by President Obama back in February. While employees at the OCC are disappointed that this change did not occur more quickly, they are pleased that senior management understands the importance of encouraging employees to use public transit to save oil, decrease environmental damage and ease the employees' financial burdens related to commuting.

The OCC is a sister financial regulatory agency to the SEC. Under the Investor and Capital Markets Relief Act of 2002, SEC employees are supposed to receive pay and benefits that are comparable to those received by employees in agencies such as the OCC. Unfortunately, the SEC has, to date, opted not to increase its public transit benefits.