Lawmakers Grill Bailout's Architects

Paulson, Bernanke Tell Lawmakers Strategy Needs To Be Flexible

(CBS/AP)  Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told Congress Tuesday he opposes tapping a $700 billion taxpayer-funded pool to help struggling U.S. automakers as he and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended their management of the bailout program, just one week after the administration abandoned the original strategy behind the rescue.

Although having a U.S. auto company fail during such a fragile time for the economy would not be a "good thing," Paulson told the House Financial Services Committee that he remains against diverting some of the bailout money to aid Detroit as the panel's chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and other Democrats want.

"I don't see this as the purpose" of the bailout program, which is intended to stabilize jittery financial markets and get lending flowing more freely again, which eventually should help revive the ailing economy, Paulson said.

The U.S. had "turned a corner" in averting a financial collapse, but more work needs to be done to get things back to normal, he said.

Focusing the program on infusing billions into banks - and possibly other types of companies - to pump up their capital and bolster lending to customers was deemed a faster and more effective approach to stabilizing the financial system than buying rotten assets from financial institutions, the centerpiece of the original plan, Paulson said.

Buying those toxic debts would have required a "massive commitment" of the bailout money, Paulson said in testimony before the House Financial Services Committee. As economic and financial conditions quickly worsened, it became clear that the first installment of the money - $350 billion - for that purpose "simply isn't enough firepower," he said.

It's crucial that the administration be nimble in assessing changing conditions and adapt the bailout strategy accordingly, the Treasury chief said. "If we have learned anything throughout this year, we have learned that this financial crisis is unpredictable and difficult to counteract," Paulson said.

Last week, Paulson changed course and said the government would not use any of the $700 billion to buy bad assets from banks. That had been the focus of the plan Paulson and Bernanke originally pitched to lawmakers.

"There is no playbook for responding to turmoil we have never faced," Paulson said. "We adjusted our strategy to reflect the facts of a severe market crisis."

But lawmakers worried the administration was sending confusing signals to taxpayers and Wall Street investors.

"We all understand that when conditions on the ground change, policymakers must be agile enough to adjust to those changed circumstances," said Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala. "But changing too quickly, without adequately explaining why you've changed or what you're going to do next, risks sending mixed signals to a marketplace that is in dire need of certainty and a sense of direction."

Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., complained about the administration's "180 degree change in policy," which he didn't necessarily fault, but suggested could hurt public confidence. "Do we have a plan? Where are we going?" Kanjorski asked.

In a profile published Tuesday in The Washington Post, Paulson said he was also working on a proposal that would allow the government to take over a wide range of financial institutions - not just banks - that are in danger of collapse.

In an interview with 60 Minutes' Steve Kroft, President-elect Barack Obama was measured in his assessment of Paulson's handling of the massive government bailout.

"We've got an unprecedented crisis, or at least something that we have not seen since the Great Depression," said Obama. "And I think Hank [Paulson] would be the first one to acknowledge that probably not everything that's been done has worked the way he had hoped it would work. But I'm less interested in looking backwards than I am in looking forwards."

Going forward, the ability of Treasury to use the bailout program for capital injections and to take other steps to stabilize the financial system - including any actions needed to prevent the disorderly failure of a major financial institution - "will be critical for restoring confidence and promoting the return of credit markets to more normal functioning," Bernanke told the panel.

Paulson said the department will focus on rolling out a capital injection program to pour $250 billion into banks in return for partial ownership stakes in them. Treasury on Monday confirmed that it supplied $33.56 billion to 21 banks in a second round of payments. That followed the initial $125 billion allocated to nine of the country's largest banks, and brought the total earmarked payments to $158.56 billion.

Treasury also will search for new ways to boost the availability of auto loans, student loans and credit cards, which have been become harder to get due to the credit crisis.

Specifically, the department along with the Federal Reserve, is exploring using some of the bailout money to bankroll a new loan facility designed to help companies that issue credit cards, make student loans and finance car purchases. Paulson said he expected putting up only a "relatively modest share" of the bailout money for this facility.

Paulson repeated his opposition to using some of the bailout money to provide guarantees for mortgages at risk of falling into foreclosure, another huge source of distress for the economy. The incoming Obama administration may approach the mortgage crisis much differently.

"One area that I'm concerned about, and I've said this publicly, is we have not focused on foreclosures and what's happening to homeowners as much as I would like," Obama said in his 60 Minutes interview. "We have the tools to do it. We've gotta set up a negotiation between banks and borrowers so that people can stay in their homes. That is gonna have an impact on the economy as a whole. And, you know, one thing I'm determined is that if we don't have a clear focused program for homeowners by the time I take office, we will after I take office."

In a break with the administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair, also testifying before the panel, pressed anew for using $24 billion of the bailout money to help some American households avoid foreclosure. As foreclosures mount, the government is "clearly falling behind the curve," she said.

Bernanke, meanwhile, called Bair's plan a "very promising approach"

So far, the Treasury Department has pledged $250 billion for banks and has agreed to devote $40 billion to troubled insurer American International Group its first slice of funds going to a company other than a bank. That leaves just $60 billion available from Congress' first bailout installment of $350 billion.

Paulson said he is not planning to initiate another capital injection program beyond those already announced. Thus he's unlikely to tap the remaining $350 billion before the Bush administration leaves office on Jan. 20. That would mean the incoming Obama administration would decide whether and how the money should be spent.

The idea behind the capital injection program is for banks to use the money to rebuild reserves and lend more freely to customers. However, banks do have the leeway to use the money for other things, such as buying other banks, paying dividends to investors or bonuses to executives. That has touched a nerve with some lawmakers.

Locked-up lending is a prime reason why the U.S. is suffering through the worst financial crisis since the 1930s. All the fallout from the housing, credit and financial crises have badly hurt the economy, which is almost certainly in recession, analysts say.

Frank has been tapped by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to draft an aid package for Detroit. The auto companies are seeking $25 billion for emergency loans.

Executives from Detroit's Big Three automakers were scheduled to appear before the Senate Banking Committee in hopes of prodding Congress to provide a rescue package that has stalled in the face of White House opposition.

[doctxt]

10 YEARS AGO-ALL OVER THE NEWS-"PEOPLE HAD TO CHOOSE-MORTGAGE PAYMENTS OR GAS FOR CARS". THEY CHOSE GAS-THE MORTGAGE INDUSRTY CRUMBLED-FED SAYS SOME FAULTY PAPER AGREEMENT BETWEEN BANKS AND INVESTORS CAUSED IT-WHEN HIGHLY PAID FEDERAL ECONOMIC GURUS LOOKED THE OTHER WAY-OIL COMPANIES REAPED $60 TO $80 MILLION A YEAR (TIMES) 10 YEARS = $800 MILLION (ONE COMPANY ALONE)-NO WONDER THE %u201CFAILOUT PLAN%u201D IS NOT ENOUGH%u2026 WHATEVER IT IS, THE PEOPLE MUST NOW PAY FOR IT.

FAILOUT PLAN IS SUPPOSED TO BAIL OUT ILLEGAL CITIZENS WHO BOUGHT AMERICAN SOIL VIA FANNIE AND FREDDIE-THEY GOT BAILED OUT FIRST, THE PLAN IS NOW NOT WORKING FOR ANYONE ELSE%u2026

AFTER GOV%u2019T APPROVAL & MAE, MAC BAILOUT - GURUS CHANGE- WANT TO INVEST IN BANKS INSTEAD OF HELPING PEOPLE-NOW THE GURUS ADMIT THE ECONOMY IS IN A SLOWDOWN.

PRICE OF OIL COMES DOWN, BUT CONSUMPTION NEVER CHANGED.

ABORTION IS OK, BUT THE BILL IS ON FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT WILL BE KILLED, AND THEY ROB THE RETIREMENT EGGS OF US ALL%u2026

THIS IS A BALANCED BUDGET-FOR THE GREEDY!

EQUATION OF THE DAY:

FED LENDS OUR $ TO BANKS FOR 1% (PLUS) WE BORROW FROM BANKS @ 10 TO 20% (PLUS) 8% TAXES (EQUALS) WE FOREVER LOSE (PLUS) FED & BANKS WIN (MINUS) TRUTH (EQUALS) DEPRESSION (TIMES) MORE LIES (EQUALS) POLITICIANS (PLUS) INVESTORS (DIVIDED BY) GREED (MINUS) LAW (MINUS) GOD (EQUALS) REVOLUTION!!!

[thedammac]

This must of started when we started loosing jobs then hours then wages etc...
then the big banks got less monies...
then corporations...
and on and on
so finally they tapped in to the chain reaction for what their greed created

[thedammac]

One more time. How dare you all! everyone wants a piece of pie,huh. you want to feel bettr go help someone in real need. We are such a material society. We turn our heads to the hungry and poor. And whine that we are only making,oh what the heck. poverty level,is it still 6,000.00 and under or has that changed. get it together greedy people.u want to feel bettr go help in your community. It has the pay of worthfulness oh yes and charm.

[thedammac]

poor ceo''s that only have hundreds of millions of our hard earned monies. u r a bunch of sell outs.

[thedammac]

NAFTA SUCKS,Its time to settle scores with other nations.

[thedammac]

This is so sad.we have no voice,right. We have no rights. We have to just sit back and be taken advantage of by the system.And we''re not even flinching. We want that 700 bil back that u never really obtained,because we really did''nt have 700 bil. you politicians are a joke,and a bunch of liars and thieves .How dare you scum suckers. noe of u r worth representing america.

[gramto8]

HOW ABOUT SPREADING THE WEALTH?
Instead of giving %u201CAll%u201D of our $700 Billion to Failing Banks, Financial Firms and The Big 3,
Provide the 305+ million American taxpayers a %u201CBailout%u201D of $1 million each.
To turn this failing American economy around give a %u201CBailout Check%u201D of $1 million to all Working and LAID OFF taxpaying American Citizens.

Posted by lalofdc at 02:01 AM : Nov 19, 2008

I won''t be greedy. I''ll settle for $100,000. They could use the rest of my million to help nine other families. Heck, right now, I''d settle for $10,000. Or maybe even one grand. Anything would be better than what I have..... which is nothing. My household has recently lost 2/3 of its income. What is left barely covers mortgage, health insurance, and light bill. Nothing is left for food, gas, phone, etc. I expect to lose my lights, phone, internet, etc. within the next two months. It is going to be a long cold winter.

[wardoglrs]

United States Constitution
Article. I.
Section. 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

[payasyougo]

"Paulson, Bernanke Tell Lawmakers Strategy Needs To Be Flexible"
----
In other words,

- they didn''t see it coming
- they are not sure what the root problem is
- they are not sure how to deal with something they can''t figure out the root cause of.
- they have to be careful they don''t **** off their favorite contributors and others they plan on taking a job with when the administration changes.

The only well known piece is the endless taxpayer piggy bank.

[lalofdc]

THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE WALL STREET BOX
BAIL OUT the AMERICAN TAXPAYER!!

HOW ABOUT SPREADING THE WEALTH?
Instead of giving %u201CAll%u201D of our $700 Billion to Failing Banks, Financial Firms and The Big 3,
Provide the 305+ million American taxpayers a %u201CBailout%u201D of $1 million each.
To turn this failing American economy around give a %u201CBailout Check%u201D of $1 million to all Working and LAID OFF taxpaying American Citizens.

Our %u201CBailout Check%u201D, would help:
1. American home owners that are behind in their mortgages should be able to negotiate
with the bank and pay off their mortgages; those that have been foreclosed on should
have the opportunity to repurchase their homes or purchase a new home from their
BANK.
2. Provide the Working and Nonworking families the opportunity to purchase their own
HEALTH insurance, which the Big and Small Business Owners say is a burden on
their profits.
3. Ford, Chrysler and GMC) sell cars $18,000 - $30,000 per car for 5 yrs.
help the Auto Industry and put AMERICAN WORKERS back to work.
Build ECO-friendly cars that help Air pollution and Global Warming.
The Big 3(Ford, Chrysler and GMC) can use their Taxpayer%u2019s Billions to Retool!
4. Purchase their own HEALTH insurance.
DO THE MATH; $305 MILLION - $700 BILLION
BOTTOM LINE
%u201CBAILING OUT%u201D All Americans will help this economy.
LalofDC

[likenoone-2009]

No bailout for no one

[incog-nito]

To the people who are against the bailout, think about this: Why do you think Toyota and Honda and BMW set up shop in the U.S.? Why didn''''t they just go to China or some other country? Is it because of the cheap labor here? Nope. It''s because they know that by doing so, Americans will be more acceptable and more likely to buy their products. After all, at least some of the money stays right here in the good ole U.S.A. This would mitigate some of "anti-foreign" sentiments from the American consumer. It''s a great strategy from a marketing standpoint.

If the Big Three go bust, there will be no longer any reason for foreign automakers to stick around, when labor costs in other countries are much, much cheaper. So all the non-union Toyota and Honda plants you''ve been heaping praise on, will slowly but surely be moving out of the country. And more Americans will try to find work selling or serving stuff to each other.

Not saying that the bailout is necessarily the right solution, just that the repercussions of the Big Three''''s demise will be tremendous.

[perk235]

Name ONE government program that is well-managed.
posted by ObamaBaboon
-------------
The privately owned financial industries are shining examples of superior management as compared to government programs. Private sector companies, with all their fat salaries, bonuses and extravagant "business meetings" highlight the efficient use of money and time.

Cowboys in the financial industries made ridiculous risky bets (derivatives) that have escalated to over $60 trillion. 95% of this debt is concentrated in the 7 biggest bank names (Chase, JP Morgan, Citibank, etc.)

[babooph]

With less than half of the war cost & corporate socialism ,we could have had national healthcare & free university education for ALL!!Both parties thogh said NO $ was "available" for such an expensive idea !!!!The rest could have increased soc sec & paid it back some of the $ given to the military ind complex for all those years[our enemies always wanted to attack & take over our oldies;no wonder they funded it !!]

[babooph]

We always have cong. hearings for the really BIG lies.

[noloyalisti]

I knew this was yet another corporate welfare scam. That is why I went out to the local corner and protested this fiasco. I HOPE EVERYONE ELSE DID TOO!!!

[questionnews]

"Lawmakers Grill Bailout''s Architects"

So what wine goes well with grilled bailouts?

[whitemale08]

mislead by the liberal media lies and propaganda into going with a shallow, arrogant, platitude-spouting, inexperienced, drug-addicted, elitist, Marxist, narcissistic, flip-flopping gas-bag who is so mentally deficient from extensive drug use he even has to plagiarize his hollow platitudes. Thus, it will only get worse -- much, much worse.


Posted by ObamBaboon at 03:45 PM : Nov 18, 2008--

Nothing that Obama could do would make it worse then it already is by your stupid vote for George W. Bush;

Talk about incompetent and stupid, you voted for the guy because his last name was Bush....HOW STUPID!!!

Bush had no qualifications for being President, he was a ''dry-drunk'' used cocaine and who knows what else and has done more damaged to this economy and this country then any avowed enemy or al-quaida could have ever done.

Before you start blaming Obama for the catastrophy of the United States wrought by your boy-chimp George W. Bush remember that most of us will always blame the very one who finally admitted that ''Our entire economy is in crisis''.

Instead of listening to junkyard dog Sean Hannity and Rush Limbuagh have failed this country and were wrong on so many fronts, why not use your ''chimp-connections'' and contact Bush to resign IMMEDIATELY for the sake of the American people.

DO IT NOW BEFORE ANY MORE DAMAGE CAN BE DONE TO OUR GREAT NATION!!!!

[whitemale08]

Obama has to start listening to those who were right about the bail out as part of his ''bringing the rivals''.

Stop listening to Soros, the British, Wall Street and all of those who are trying to resurrect a DEAD FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF WORTHLESS DERIVATIVES.

Instead call in the "wise men" of economics like Ron Paul and Lyndon Larouche both who have predicted this ''breakdown crisis'' in our financial system.

DO IT NOW BEFORE IT''S TOO LATE!!!!

[berniew4]

It appears most posts are against tyhe general bailout. Please remember that the demos gave great support to this corrupt bailout!! At least in my redneck state both US senators are and were against any bailout which helps loosers cand punishes winners