The House is scheduled to vote on the financial sector bailout package later today. If it passes, the Senate will take it up on Wednesday.

The package itself retains the core Paulson proposal to give Treasury the authority to purchase $700 billion in problem mortgages held by banks and other financial institutions. The goal of the plan is to restore confidence in these institutions by eliminating this source of fear and uncertainty for the next two years. The ultimate cost of this plan to taxpayers will depend on how much further home prices fall. Some observers believe the taxpayer will be …

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