Bailout Bill - Revamped Heading Back To Congress

The highly unpopular bailout package is heading back to Congress after being revamped and sweetened with enough pork to satisfy disgruntled members of Congress. The bill that was 100 pages long when defeated by congressman, has expanded in size. The Senate version is now 450 pages and ties in a number of pet projects aimed at getting specific congressional representatives to change their vote.

The changes may not be enough to change minds.

"The Senate measure has changed my position from 'No' to 'Heck, no,' " said Texas Democrat Lloyd Doggett. "With the Senate amendment, the bailout has gone from bad to worse, $105 billion more in public debt worse."

Some of the new provisions in the bill:

• An extension of the solar energy credit - (A pet project of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Democrat)


• Tax incentives for Hollywood to make new movies in the United States. (Aimed at no-voters Representatives Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman, Democrats from California)


• A provision to boost insurance coverage of mental illness. (This is a priority of Rep. Jim Ramstad, a Minnesota Republican)

The changes to the bill co-incide with more dire rhetoric from both sides who warn that the end of the economic world is near if the bill's passage is not assured.