John McCain and Barack Obama offered long-distance help from the campaign trail. They announced separately that they support a plan that some House Republicans had pushed earlier: raising the federal deposit insurance limit from $100,000 to $250,000.
I wonder what the cost is. I'll bet it's not too high. How many people keep more than $100k in a bank account anyway?
For his part, President Bush sought to avoid being marginalized. He spoke with both nominees, and made another statement in the White House. "Congress must act," he demanded in front of the cameras.
Avoid being marginalized? I think that boat already sailed. Has there ever been another sitting president kept out of his party's convention?
Another possible change to the bill would modify "mark to market" accounting rules. Such rules require banks and other financial institutions to adjust the value of their assets to reflect current market prices, even if they plan to hold the assets for years.
And, after all, we can certainly trust the banks to price their holdings properly.
Some lawmakers reported a shift in constituent calls pouring into their offices. Calls and e-mails were overwhelmingly opposed to the rescue plan before Monday's vote, many offices said. But Monday's stock market dive prompted calls Tuesday from Americans furious about Congress's inaction, some said.
Decisive, as ever.
--SCC
