We've been watching as banks continue to hoard the bailout funds, maybe buy up some other banks, but nothing has trickled down to Main Street. Well, the Federal Reserve announced today that it's committing up to $800 billion to make it easier for Main Street folks to borrow money for cars, tuition bills and new homes. The Treasury Department is giving up very little of its Congressional bailout funds -- just $20 billion -- to the Fed's consumer lending program.Did Congress really intend for so little to go to Main Street? I doubt it and I hope that when Henry Paulson comes begging for the second half of the bailout he's told it's not his to spend. Congress might want to wait for the new administration because many are not happy with how Paulson is spending it.
I'm glad to see the Fed is moving in a much more appropriate direction to help get Main Street back on track. The Fed intends to provide up to $200 billion to investors who plan to put the money towards consumer loans, such as credit cards, auto loans and student loans, as well as some forms of small business loans. These will be in the form of one-year loans available only for newly-issued consumer debt. These type of loans totally dried up in October and are essential to get the economy moving again.
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