From
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/financia...LREFYiKis0N UE today: (excerpts):
The measure would create a program that lets the government spend unprecedented sums of public money to prop up tottering financial institutions by buying their sagging mortgage-based investments and other devalued assets.
A breakthrough came when Democrats agreed to incorporate a GOP demand — letting the government insure some bad home loans rather than buy them — designed to limit the amount of federal money used in the rescue.
Another important bargain, vital to attracting support from centrist Democrats and Republicans who are fiscal hawks, would require that financial firms repay the government for any losses. A leading proposal would impose a 2 percent tax on the companies if, after five years, the program had not made back what it spent.
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But, also:
"We've still got more to do to finalize it, but I think we're there," said Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who participated in the talks at the Capitol.
and:
Congressional leaders, who announced the tentative deal after marathon negotiations that ended early Sunday, hope to have a House vote Monday; a Senate vote would come later.
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Meaning, there's still time for various congresscritters to offer "amendments" on behalf of some interest group or other that would fuck up the deal. I'm wait and see on whether this particular deal, this particular legislation will actually do the short-term job it's designed to do.