Friday, September 26, 2008

Talks Continue

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush told Congress Friday it must "rise to the occasion" and pass legislation bailing out the struggling financial system, and leading lawmakers arranged to resume difficult negotiations.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, struggling to keep an emerging bipartisan accord on the plan from imploding, was set to attend the restart of talks at midday. House Republicans said they would send a top leader to the closed-door session after the House GOP earlier boycotted bargaining on an emerging bipartisan agreement, calling it unacceptable.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080926/financial_meltdown.html

So the two parties are still talking but they can't agree on what they want to do. There's Republican support for an alternative bill, so they're trying to incorporate elements of that bill into the current one supported by Democrats. With any luck they'll figure out something they're both happy with.

Financial Crisis

WASHINGTON - A Republican rebellion stalled government efforts Thursday to avoid economic meltdown, a chaotic turnaround that disrupted the choreography of an extraordinary White House meeting meant to show joint resolve from the president, the political parties and the presidential candidates. Instead, the summit broke up so bitterly that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson got on one knee before Democratic leaders in a theatrical attempt to salvage talks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080926/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown

I'm not sure if I support the bailout or not. On one hand, it will help the economy hopefully, and prevent a possible depression. On the other hand, it rewards people who made bad decisions and will cost tax payers a TON of money.

It seems like it always comes down to the bitter differences between the two parties. It's so hard to come to an agreement, as this failed bailout meeting has shown.