As the Senate resumes consideration this week of the "Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011" (S. 782), GOP Senators may take the opportunity to offer amendments to the bill that would weaken or repeal the entire Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

Two of the senators offering amendments attacking financial regulation and consumer protection have raised more than $4 million in combined campaign cash from the Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (FIRE) sector during their careers.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) proposes repealing the Dodd-Frank law by offering an amendment modeled on a bill he introduced in late March, titled the “Financial Takeover Repeal Act of 2011.” Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has submitted an amendment that would substantially weaken the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the regulatory entity envisioned by Elizabeth Warren. Sen. Moran’s amendment includes measures to replace the CFPB’s director with a six person board and subject the bureau’s budget to the Congressional appropriations process, making the CFPB the only financial regulatory body subject to that process.

Both Sen. DeMint and Sen. Moran have also benefitted significantly from campaign contributions from companies in the FIRE sector, according to Public Campaign analysis of data from the Center for Responsive Politics. This sector ranks at or near the top for campaign contributions to each Senator over their careers.

•  In the 2010 cycle, Senator DeMint (R-S.C.) received $1,583,916 in contributions from the FIRE sector to his campaign committee and leadership PAC. Over his career, he has received at least $3,119,908 from this sector.

• In the 2010 cycle, Senator Moran (R-Kan.) received $588,310 in contributions from the FIRE sector to his campaign committee and leadership PAC. Over his career, he has received at least $1,165,793 from this sector.