Wednesday, October 01, 2008

A Line In The Sand Or A Line In The Air

Ah, Congress puts it foot down when it comes to setting strict limits on how much taxpayer money can be doled out at any one time (pp. 40-41):

16 (1) Effective upon the date of enactment of this
17 Act, such authority shall be limited to
18 $250,000,000,000 outstanding at any one time.

Booyah! Take that those that would call this deal a "blank cheque"! You are gonna have to eat your words, right? Well...

19 (2) If at any time, the President submits to the
20 Congress a written certification that the Secretary
21 needs to exercise the authority under this paragraph,
22 effective upon such submission, such authority shall
23 be limited to $350,000,000,000 outstanding at any
24 one time.

Oh, I see. But, hey, this is just a safety net sorta thing. This the real strict line!

1 (3) If, at any time after the certification in
2 paragraph (2) has been made, the President tran
3 mits to the Congress a written report detailing the
4 plan of the Secretary to exercise the authority under
5 this paragraph, unless there is enacted, within 15
6 calendar days of such transmission, a joint resolu
7 tion described in subsection (c), effective upon the
8 expiration of such 15-day period, such authority
9 shall be limited to $700,000,000,000 outstanding at
10 any one time.

Mommy!

UPDATE:

It turns out that the mechanism for keeping the executive branch from doling out up to $700b at any one time will require a joint resolution from Congress.

Which the President can veto.

Oh, and I'm sure any override attempt will be pursued in good faith.

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