GOP conservatives present rescue alternative

Richard Shelby
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) speaks to the media after a meeting between President George W. Bush aand bipartisan members of the Congress. Shelby announced to the press that he didn't believe there was an agreement on the bailout deal.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

A group of House conservatives are proposing an alternative plan to rescue shaky financial institutions.

The White House favors a 700-billion dollar bailout that has been revised following negotiations with congressional Democrats.

The plan the conservatives are offering is a package of tax breaks and a new government-sponsored insurance program for mortgage-backed securities. Banks, financial firms and other investors holding toxic mortgage securities would pay premiums to the Treasury to finance the insurance coverage. Institutions holding higher-risk securities would require higher premiums.

Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor, a Republican, says the alternative plan would remove the burden of the bailout from taxpayers and instead place it, over time, on Wall Street.

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