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A voice from the pro-bailout side

U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX)

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TEXT OF INTERVIEW

Renita Jablonski: It looks like U.S. stocks are heading for a slight rebound after some of the steepest losses in years yesterday. The Dow lost nearly 780 points after the House said no to a proposed $700 billion rescue plan for the financial industry. Carnage on Wall Street usually attracts bargain hunters. Futures may also be higher on hope Congress finally gets together on this issue.

Texas Congressman Kevin Brady is holding out hope. He's a member of the Joint Economic Committee. He's a Republican, and he voted yes for the so-called bailout. Congressman, welcome.

Congressman Kevin Brady: Well, thank you for having me.

Jablonski: Why did you vote yes for the bailout?

Brady: Well, because I think the alternative of not doing anything, of not acting, was much worse. I don't like this bill at all -- it goes against much of everything I believe in. But, you know, we've got, we do have a severe financial crisis. And right now it is limited to New York and the global markets, but it is going to spread down to our local communities. So I thought it was important and responsible to try and stop this right now, or at least try to calm it as much as we can, so we can get the market back on its feet.

Jablonski: You mention that spread eventually to other communities outside of Wall Street. How do you make that real for your constituents?

Brady: You know it's difficult right now because it doesn't feel like it's reaching down, but we're starting to get reports from loggers who are losing their line of credit so that they can't take timber to the local paper mill. We're starting to see small businesses that are seeing their, again, their credit line squeezed, which is their operating costs. I don't think it's reached most people at this point, that's the good news. The bad news is that credit market is in serious trouble, and it's going to affect almost everyone if we don't nip it in the bud.

Jablonski: So here we are, day after a bailout bust. What's next?

Brady: Well, both parties have got to knock off the foolishness at this point and sit down and work it out. I just thought, you know, there's been a whole lot of demagoguery and not enough serious solutions. And I think there is common ground. I think the Speaker has two choices -- she can say, she can ask where can I get the votes, and she can probably strong arm -- she should be able to strong arm some of her members enough, 10 of them, into voting the existing bill. Or she can ask where is this more common ground, and pull more Republicans and moderates over to support, you know, an altered solution.

Jablonski: So you're sitting with a Republican colleague drinking coffee. What are you saying to them right now?

Brady: We've got to solve this problem. Like it or not, Congress needs to act, and do it responsibly and do it now, because this lack of leadership is costing average people a lot of money. And then the economy, it's going to make a recession that's sure to come much deeper and much longer, so let's act.

Jablonski: Republican Congressman Kevin Brady is a member of the Joint Economic Committee. He did vote yes for the bailout yesterday. Congressman, so good to have you with us, thanks.

Brady: Thank you for having me, I appreciate it.

About the author

Sammy Comp's picture
Sammy Comp - Apr 9, 2009

Wow, I'm a high school student researching the issue for a debate. And even with my very limited knowledge of economics I see how weak and unresonable his answers are. Are there any positives for the american people to bail out banks?

Eddie Saldana's picture
Eddie Saldana - Oct 2, 2008

As a member of the joint economic committee, I think the congressman's answers are very weak. Shouldn't he have a better reason than just voting for it because or else he is doing nothing? Sounds like there is no plan. If I am sick I don't just go to the medicine cabinet and take lots of whatever I can get to feel better. You go to the doctor figure out the root cause and cure it accordingly. This plan sounds like putting bandages on when there is internal bleeding. I think I will start asking the congressman for money when I dry up my credit line, and see if he is in favor of giving me some.

Tim Martinez's picture
Tim Martinez - Sep 30, 2008

The market was up because lots of people expected it to rebound some after such a huge loss the day before. Buy low, sell high. I actually wanted to buy more too, but I didn't have a bank account linked to my new investment account.

I think people are watching and waiting to see how the credit crunch affects banks. Will more go under? How much are values overstated? Some of these banks are very leveraged, 30 to 1, 20 to 1. Apparently these things matter now...

I don't see how this can't be just temporary. I don't know if the market will rebound to pre-crisis levels, or if this will be the new average. But I wouldn't expect a continual drop except as more bad news comes in for either this crisis or the economy.

Shre Man's picture
Shre Man - Sep 30, 2008

Former CEO of Goldman sachs Mr Paulson has to be fired. He cannot be allowed to pick tax payers pockets by using scare tactics.
Everyone yesterday were saying the market lost 1 Trillion. Can someone explain why the market rallied today?

Tim Martinez's picture
Tim Martinez - Sep 30, 2008

Why is a logging company losing its line of credit? There's got to be people who can loan money to this company and others. Just because people don't want to hold securities that are made up of bad mortgage debt doesn't mean they wouldn't want to loan to healthy business in order to earn interest. Is the problem that there is a shortage of credit that is leading to credit being more expensive, which in turn may slow an already sluggish economy?