Government Documents for You

The Thurgood Marshall Law Library has recently added two timely Congressional Research Service (CRS) research summaries to its Special Collections & Digital Projects collection. The Cost of Government Financial Interventions, Past and Present and Proposal to Allow Treasury to Buy Mortgage-Related Assets to Address Financial Instability have been written in response to the financial turmoil occurring in the United States financial markets.

The Cost of Financial Interventions, Past and Present attempts to answer questions about the recent financial interventions by the government in the business of private corporations. Sources of funding and the costs to the taxpayer are discussed. The AIG, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, and Bear Stearns cases are used as examples. A table of a Summary of Current and Historical Financial Interventions by the Federal Government is also supplied.
Available on the Internet:
http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/crsreports/crsdocuments/RS22965_09232008.pdf

Proposal to Allow Treasury to Buy Mortgage-Related Assets to Address Financial Instability explains Treasury Secretary Paulsen's [draft of 9/21/2008] plan for legislative authorization to allow direct intervention in the economy. This report analyzes the proposals by answering frequently asked questions.
Available on the Internet:
http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/crsreports/crsdocuments/RS22957_09222008.pdf

Post on GovDoc-L from: Bill Sleeman, Assistant Director for Technical Services,
Thurgood Marshall Law Library, The University of Maryland School of Law