We increased the deposit insurance cap from $100,000 to $250,000 so that families will have added protection for savings and retirement accounts.
While the initial proposal authorized up to $700 billion to purchase distressed assets, the measure we passed takes a more cautious approach,
initially authorizing $250 billion and requiring the approval from Congress and the President for additional funding. Importantly, the bill we passed
includes restrictions on the benefits received by executives whose companies are selling some of their distressed assets to the government. In return
for purchasing the assets, taxpayers will obtain an ownership stake in the companies. Many leading economists believe that the real estate market will
turn around in the foreseeable future and government owned properties and assets will be sold at a profit. A provision in this bill that I supported
requires any profits realized to be placed in the nation’s treasury to reduce the deficit. If, however, after five years the government is facing a
loss in the program, the President must submit a plan to Congress recommending how the money will be recouped from financial services companies. I
believe that these protections are a dramatic improvement over the Administration’s initial proposal.
The bill passed by the Senate included an important package of tax policy provisions. One of these provisions is an extension of the state and local
sales tax deduction, which is a matter of fairness for states like Texas that do not have a state income tax. The average Texan will save $520 when
they file their federal income tax forms next year. We also shielded low and middle-income taxpayers from higher taxes associated with the flawed
alternative minimum tax (AMT) and included tax incentives to spur energy production and innovation including the wind energy production tax credit and
the research and development tax credit.
As Texans, we have learned to take responsibility for our actions and being asked to pay for the mistakes of others is something many, including
myself, find deeply troubling. However, after careful deliberation, I believe that the risks associated with doing nothing outweighed the risk of
passing a less than perfect bill that nevertheless includes important protections for taxpayers. Economic evidence clearly suggested the problems were
spreading into the broader economy. That is why I voted for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.
I appreciate hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5922 (tel)
202-224-0776 (fax)
hutchison.senate.gov...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Regards
vonvitt

