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Monday, September 29, 2008
Updated Wall Street Bailout Plan Details
 This post is an updated version of our previous post on a summary of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan that the House rejected (205-228) this afternoon.
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 presidentt, which Congress could reject within 15 days . The rejection could then be vetoed by the president.
Mechanics
- The government could purchase mortgage-backed securities and other troubled assets and their derivatives. With support from the Fed, it could also purchase 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, if the firm becomes profitable.
- Participating firms would be subject to executive pay restrictions, implemented through the tax code. The plan would also bar firms from giving "golden parachutes" to executives leaving participating firms for reasons other than retirement
- 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
- If, after five years, the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget agree that the government has not profited from the sale of troubled assets, the president must submit to Congress a plan to recuperate the cost of the plan from the financial industry
Foreclosure Protection
- Treasury can encourage mortgage servicers to modify troubled mortgages
- Requires federal entities that own mortgages to develop a plan to mitigate the foreclosure rate
- Relaxes requirements for eligibility for the Hope for Homeowners program
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
Executive Power Enhancement
- An affirmation of the SEC head to suspend mark-to-market accounting, thus allowing firms to report asset values different from what the market believes them to be
- Allows Treasury Secretary to suspend federal contracting rules
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
Posted by Craig Jennings
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