The CFPB spent $299.76 million “in obligations” in fiscal year 2012, according to the bureau’s third semi-annual report to Congress, submitted late last month. Approximately $134 million of that was spent on employee compensation and benefits for the 970 employees on board at the bureau as of Sept. 30, 2012. As of Dec. 31, 2012, the CFPB had requested transfers from the Federal Reserve totaling $136.2 million to fund CFPB operations and activities for the first quarter of FY2013. These funds are held in an account for the bureau at...