WASHINGTON • Two St. Louis area politicians are lauding federal government actions they have pushed.

• Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, on Thursday wrote FDIC chairman Martin Gruenberg applauding the agency's "removal of lists naming certain industries deserving of increased scrutiny from financial institutions regulated by the FDIC." The action is related to Operation Choke Point, the Obama administration's initiative designed to cut off bank access to companies that prey on consumers. Republicans, including Luetkemeyer, had called Operation Choke Point a thinly veiled ideological crusade to put out of business industries that Obama doesn’t like, such as guns and coal.

“I am pleased that you have taken the first step in ensuring that all of these heightened scrutiny lists generated by FDIC staff are removed from guidance, and request you ensure that similar lists are not used in future presentations by any FDIC personnel,” Luetkemeyer wrote Gruenberg. Luetkemeyer has introduced legislation creating "safe harbors" allowing companies to get bank and credit union access if those companies are engaged in legal business.