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Sunday, September 28, 2008
Bailout Agreement Reached
 Media reports and a press release from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) indicate that Congressional leaders and the White House have agreed to a package of measures designed to prevent a financial market meltdown. An official announcement of agreement is expected tonight, and final details of the plan remain unsettled. Here are the package's main provisions:
Size: Up to $700 billion
- $250 billion would be immediately available to Treasury to buy up troubled assets
- Another $100 billion would be available to Treasury "upon report to Congress"
- The final $350 billion would be available upon request of the president. Media reports, however, are inconsistent on this. Some are reporting says that the money would be available "only upon action by Congress," while others say it would be available upon presidential request, which Congress could reject. The rejection could then be vetoed.
Mechanics
- The government could purchase mortgage-backed securities and other troubled assets from investment, commercial, and smaller community banks, credit unions, pension funds, and local governments.
Taxpayer Protection
- Firms participating in the bailout would be required to grant the government warrants to obtain nonvoting shares of stock.
- Participating firms would be subject to executive pay restrictions, although the details remain vague
- The Treasury Secretary would have the authority to establish an insurance fund not unlike the FDIC to guarantee troubled assets; premiums would be paid for by private firms
- A fee may be imposed upon the banking industry to pay for the bailout if the government loses money on the purchase of these toxic assets. Reports on this provisions vary, an no details have been announced
Foreclosure Protection
- Treasury can renegotiate mortgages purchased by the federal government with borrowers
- A "tax holiday" for homeowners facing foreclosure will be extended
Oversight and Transparency
- A bipartisan oversight board appointed by members of both parties in Congress would be created
- An inspector general would monitor Treasury decisions, and the Government Accountability Office would regularly audit the program
- Treasury would be required to make transactions made through the troubled asset program available publicly online
- There would be conflict-of-interest rules for firms hired by the Treasury to help run the program
- There would be judicial review of Treasury decisions
Not Included
- The package does not have language that would allow bankruptcy judges adjust mortgage rates or principal
- No profits from the scheme would flow to an affordable housing trust fund
This information has been compiled from the following news sources:
The Wall Street Journal
The New York Times
The Washington Post
McClatchy Newspapers
Congressional Quarterly ($)
Posted by Craig Jennings
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