Dec 22 Watch Details Scarce on How Banks Are Spending Rescue Funds With half of the $700 billion in financial industry rescue funds already allocated, new questions are emerging over exactly how banks have used the money. A financial reporter and a top GAO official examine the issue. Continue watching
Nov 25 Watch Obama Pledges New Effort to Tighten Federal Budget President-elect Barack Obama named Peter Orszag as his budget director Tuesday and pledged the rein in the federal budget. Financial experts mull his proposals and weigh in on the complex process of trimming federal programs. Continue watching
Oct 14 Watch President Bush Unveils New Plan to Stabilize Banks The Bush administration unveiled a plan Tuesday to stabilize the teetering U.S. banking system with as much as $250 billion of the financial sector rescue fund. Three economic experts discuss the impact of the plan. Continue watching
Sep 24 Kindly explain just how the U.S. taxpayer will be asked to cough up nearly $ 1 trillion to pay for this bailout? Question/Comment: Kindly explain just how the U.S. taxpayer will be asked to cough up nearly $ 1 trillion to pay for this bail out? Nobody has spelled this out in detail as far as I know. Can we expect our… Continue reading
Sep 22 Watch Congress Struggles With Scope of Financial Rescue Plan The government's $700 billion financial bailout proposal now faces lawmaker approval. Senate finance committee members describe which parts of the plan are stirring debate. Continue watching
Sep 22 Where do the funds for the bailouts and related rescue efforts in fact come from? Question/Comment: I have 2 naive questions: 1. This is a nuts and bolts/dollars and sense (pun intended) question: Where do the funds for the bailouts and related rescue efforts in fact come from? What is the source of the… Continue reading
Sep 09 Watch Senators React to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae Rescue Plan After the U.S. Treasury's decision to take over mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Senate Banking Committee members Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Richard Shelby, R.-Ala., provide Congressional perspective on the rescue plan and assess the road ahead. Continue watching
Dec 14 It is often said that tax cuts help the economy because the taxpayer spends the money. I do not see how that works. Question/Comment: It is often said that tax cuts help the economy because the taxpayer spends the money. I do not see how that works. After all, the government spends money, too. So what does it matter who spends the money?… Continue reading