Bailout Summary - What Do We Think?
Here’s the text of a summary on the current bailout language. I don’t think a summary/salespiece like this matters much. I’m working on getting the actual text - there are some slow servers in important places - and we’ll look it over ahead of votes on it in the House and Senate.
SUMMARY OF THE “EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT OF 2008″
I. Stabilizing the Economy
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) provides up to $700 billion to the Secretary of the Treasury to buy mortgages and other assets that are clogging the balance sheets of financial institutions and making it difficult for working families, small businesses, and other companies to access credit, which is vital to a strong and stable economy. EESA also establishes a program that would allow companies to insure their troubled assets.
II. Homeownership Preservation
EESA requires the Treasury to modify troubled loans - many the result of predatory lending practices - wherever possible to help American families keep their homes. It also directs other federal agencies to modify loans that they own or control. Finally, it improves the HOPE for Homeowners program by expanding eligibility and increasing the tools available to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help more families keep their homes.
III. Taxpayer Protection
Taxpayers should not be expected to pay for Wall Street’s mistakes. The legislation requires companies that sell some of their bad assets to the government to provide warrants so that taxpayers will benefit from any future growth these companies may experience as a result of participation in this program. The legislation also requires the President to submit legislation that would cover any losses to taxpayers resulting from this program by charging a small, broad-based fee on all financial institutions.
IV. No Windfalls for Executives
Executives who made bad decisions should not be allowed to dump their bad assets on the government, and then walk away with millions of dollars in bonuses. In order to participate in this program, companies will lose certain tax benefits and, in some cases, must limit executive pay. In addition, the bill limits “golden parachutes” and requires that unearned bonuses be returned.
V. Strong Oversight
Rather than giving the Treasury all the funds at once, the legislation gives the Treasury $250 billion immediately, then requires the President to certify that additional funds are needed ($100 billion, then $350 billion subject to Congressional disapproval). The Treasury must report on the use of the funds and the progress in addressing the crisis. EESA also establishes an Oversight Board so that the Treasury cannot act in an arbitrary manner. It also establishes a special inspector general to protect against waste, fraud and abuse.
Sundeep
I’m skeptical of the plan. III is slightly disturbing. II and IV strike me as different rules for different people: betting on mortgages is perfectly OK if you don’t work on Wall Street. I can’t say I’m surprised though.
Bob McCarty
The estimated cost per U.S. family contained in your PRNewswire release is confusing to say the least. It reads this way: An estimate produced by WashingtonWatch.com puts the spending in this legislation at about $6,500 per U.S. family, or a little over $2,000 per family.
Which is it — $6,500 or $2,000? Please clarify or correct this estimate.
Jim Harper
Indeed, this was an error in the release. Thanks for pointing it out. It should have said $2,000 per person (which corresponds to $6,500 per family). Thanks to your eagle eye, I was able to catch this before it went out in this morning’s WashingtonWatch.com email, which is . . . six minutes from going out. Thanks.
Lisa
Looks like the knuckleheads are at it again, saving their own azzes. So let me get this straight, government is asking government for a financial bail out….HUM?? Meaning: Keep the rich richer, and the poor poorer….It would be nice if we could seriously put some brains and common sense in government.
The American People need to stand up and revolt and ask for Transparency in everything. Fema loads and taxpayers costs, transportation costs of our goods. Investors in markets, everything down to that snickers bar they eat!! How many of these folks that we are attempting to bail out are illegal immigrants?
Geez, we are a mess!!
Joshua
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/28/bailout-legislation-full_n_130063.html
Jim Harper
@Joshua:
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/2008/09/28/bailout-text-tarp-taxpayers-are-really-payin/