milu's Blog

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As you and your colleagues work to come up with a solution to the economic crisis facing our country, I hope you will keep the needs of the taxpayers – and not the special interests – foremost in your mind.

I realize that this is an election year, and that many in Congress are eager to adjourn quickly and get back to the campaign trail.  However, there is too much at stake to rush to judgment.  I urge you to take your time in considering the current bailout proposal, even if it means extending your session past this Friday.  Specifically, I hope that any bailout bill will:

* Be completely transparent about how our tax dollars are being used. 
 * Include strict oversight over the actions of the Treasury Secretary.  The current proposal gives unprecedented, unlimited authority to the Treasury Secretary, and makes his decisions non-reviewable by any court of law or administrative agency.  The lack of oversight is what's gotten us into this mess; Congress should not compound the problem.
* Include provisions to help families who are in danger of losing their homes avoid foreclosure.
* Cap the pay of CEOs of the bailed out companies.  As ordinary Americans struggle to make ends meet and taxpayers are asked to shoulder this $700 billion bailout, the CEOs responsible for these problems should not be receiving million-dollar bonuses and golden parachutes.
* Ensure that, when the bailed out companies become profitable again, some portion of those profits will be returned to the public treasury.  This cannot turn into a public debt for private profit situation.

Finally, I ask that you not let the negotiations over this bill dissolve into partisan bickering.  The financial health and stability of our nation, and Congress's duty to provide oversight over the handling of taxpayer dollars, must be your first and last consideration.

Thank you.