The Hill reports: The Federal Reserve is pushing back against mounting criticism of the central bank, as those pushing for reforms ratchet up their attacks. . . The uptick in outreach from the independent agency signals an effort to quell calls for significant changes at the Fed and assuage concerns that it has become too opaque and too cozy with Wall Street. Even some independent observers are puzzled by the highly visible push back from the Fed: “It almost seems like they’re running scared,” said Vern McKinley, an attorney who advises governments on central banking policies. “It’s beneath them to be doing