Mark Tapscott is the staunch conservative editor of DC Examiner and a fellow media technologist at the Sunlight Foundation's Open Congress Project. He's for the to the bail but critical of it. For the sake of clarity, he has published on his blog a side-by-side comparison of the Paulson proposal and the one being put to a vote. Take a look at it after the jump.
Remember, this table is from the POV of a fiscal and social conservative. Still, given so many Republicans are against the bail out, I find it a helpful visual aid.
The chart confirms my first gut reaction: There's no help for victims of the sub-prime mortgage mess nor provisions to ensure the criminal prosecution of bankers who willfully lied about their creditors incomes.
Also, I see no reason to create a "bipartisan oversight committee" nor to create a new mandatory banking insurance when we already have the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). On the contrary, the FDIC should be expanded as per James Galbraith's Washinton Post opinion piece, A bailout we don't need. I especially think it's really smart to empower the FBI with the money and tools needed to look at this economic crisis from the POV of potential criminal activity.
What do you think?
Side-by-Side Comparison of Rescue Legislation
Issue |
Paulson Plan |
Frank-Dodd |
Final Bill |
$ |
700B |
700B - Delivered in 150B traunches that can be delayed by Congressional disapproval (and a Presidential signature) |
250B - Immediately available to the Secretary. 100B - Available upon report to Congress. 350B - Available ONLY upon Congressional action. |
Insurance (House Republican Mode) |
Requirement to establish mandatory insurance/guarantee program at no expense to the taxpayer. "Pay to play" for participating companies, based on risk. |
||
Executive Compensation |
Far reaching executive compensation standards that would affect companies not even involved in this financial crisis. Additionally, the bill lowered the deduction on executive pay to $400,000 for ALL companies. |
Workable prohibitions on executive compensation to ensure bad actors are not rewarded. In a total takeover (like what happened with AIG), there will be no golden parachutes or severance pay. For equity participation, over $300M total ban for top 5 executives on golden parachutes and tax deduction limit on compensation above $500,000. |
|
Oversight / Transparency |
Onerous, unworkable and repetitive reporting and oversight requirements, hindering proper implementation of program. |
Establishment of bipartisan oversight commission, split evenly between minority and majority. Practical reporting requirements to ensure proper reports to Congress and the public. If after 5 years the government has a net loss of taxpayer funds as a consequence of the purchase program, the President will be required to submit a legislative proposal to recoup such funds from program beneficiaries. |
|
"Say on Pay" Union Take Over of Corporate Boards |
So-called "say on pay" or "proxy access" which propose to mandate a non-binding shareholder vote on proxy access and other corporate governance issues for all companies in which the Treasury Department buys a direct stake in certain assets. |
OUT |
|
Affordable Housing Slush Fund (ACORN Fund) |
Included a giveaway that would force taxpayers to bankroll a slush fund for ACORN - an organization fraught with controversy for, among other scandals, its fraudulent voter registration activities on behalf of Democratic candidates. |
OUT |
|
Bankruptcy "Cram-down" (aka, trial bar give-away) |
Included so-called "cramdown" provisions allowing bankruptcy judges to reduce mortgage principal under the guise of helping those at risk of foreclosure. If enacted into law, the provision would be a bonanza for trial lawyers and undercut the effectiveness of any economic recovery effort by making it even harder to value mortgage-backed securities. |
OUT |
|
Mark-to-Market Accounting |
GAO study on the impacts of mark-to-market accounting standards and effects on the banking crisis. Restatement of existing authority to suspend mark-to-market. |
||
Equity / Warrants |
Mandatory equity interest in all participating firms. |
Mandatory equity interests in total takeover scenario. Proportional equity interest based on percentage of assets sold if deemed appropriate Secretary. |
|
Tax benefits for community banks |
Ability for community banks to take capital losses on GSE assets against ordinary income. |
[Image credit: Agence France Press]
A Side-by-Side Comparison of Paulson's Bail-out & the Bill Offered Today


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