With less than two weeks before the Federal Reserve’s Sept. 16 interest-rate meeting, the policy vote is being closely watched alongside economic data. Bianco Research founder Jim Bianco says the current tally is six votes to maintain rates versus five to raise them, with one vote unknown: former Federal Reserve chairman Powell, who remains a Federal Reserve governor after his chairmanship ended on May 15 this year. Powell has made no public statements since the May press conference, making his position a decisive uncertainty. Bianco previously forecast a 7-5 outcome but said the direction of that majority remained unclear, putting the probability of a rate hike at roughly 50/50. He links the public division among Federal Open Market Committee members to continued criticism of the Federal Reserve by Trump and concerns about the central bank’s independence. Since 1936, the Fed has never recorded a 6-6 vote; the closest examples were 6-5 decisions in 1963, 1964 and 1973. The Federal Reserve Act does not specify how to resolve a tie, although Bianco said the institution could maintain the federal funds rate or hold another vote until the deadlock is broken.