The mystery congressman responsible for the inclusion of language in the $ 1.1 trillion dollar spending bill that caused a progressive outcry is coming forward to defend the provision . The measure weakens banking regulations designed to prevent another financial crisis . Critics of the language , such as Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren , claim the provision could invite another fiscal meltdown and was essentially written by the U.S. banking giant , Citigroup . In a statement to CNN , Rep. Kevin Yoder , R-Kansas , insisted the provision included in the spending bill would not lead to a collapse on Wall Street , followed by a bailout from taxpayers . `` The amendment does not address the riskier derivatives associated with the mortgage crisis , '' Yoder said in the statement . `` Other backstops exist in Dodd-Frank to prevent a bailout based on those instruments . '' As the spending bill , dubbed the CRomnibus by Capitol Hill insiders , was debated in Congress last week , Warren blasted the banking provision as a `` loophole '' that would allow Wall Street to gamble with taxpayer money . `` This giveaway that was drafted by Citigroup lobbyists has no place in a critical government funding bill , '' Warren said in a speech on the Senate floor that once again stirred speculation the Massachusetts Democrat may run for the presidency . A spokesman for Yoder acknowledged the wording of the amendment essentially came from a stand-alone bill that passed the House last year . `` We got the language from HR 992 , '' a Yoder aide told CNN . That legislation , HR 992 , was partially written by lobbyists for Citigroup , according to emails obtained by The New York Times . The bill , which was never voted on in the Senate , sought to loosen Dodd-Frank Act regulations aimed at limiting banking and investment industry practices that led to the 2008 financial crisis . Asked about the provision , White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama plans to sign the spending legislation to prevent a government shutdown . But Earnest said the President remains opposed to Yoder 's language . `` The White House , regardless of who wrote the provision , strongly opposes it and does n't think it 's a good idea , because it does water down one element of Wall Street reform , '' Earnest told reporters Tuesday . Earnest said the White House was `` in the loop '' in the drafting of the spending bill but could not account for every provision in the legislation . `` This is a bill that was written by Congress , and whether one element of that bill was plagiarized by a member of Congress from a Citibank lobbyist is something that you 'd have to ask a member of Congress , '' Earnest said . In his statement , Yoder touted his provision as needed protection for smaller financial institutions , rather than a boon to Wall Street . `` Without this fix , smaller regional banks would be in danger of not being able to meet the lending needs of their customers . Ultimately , farmers , manufacturers and other Main Street businesses would be harmed the most , '' Yoder added . Yoder is perhaps best-known for skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee during a trip with other congressional leaders to Israel in 2011 . The Kansas Republican later apologized for the incident .
GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder of Kansas says he 's responsible for a controversial banking language included in the spending measure . Progressives , led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren , claim the provision could lead to another Wall Street meltdown . The White House opposes the language but supports the broader package .