MURKOWSKI VOTES AGAINST GIVING THE TREASURY MORE FUNDS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted against giving the Treasury Department access to the remaining $350 billion in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). TARP is part of the Emergency Economic Recovery Act which passed Congress and was signed into law last October.
Murkowski released the following statement after senators voted, 52 – 42, to give the Treasury Department authority spend the $350 billion remaining in a $700 billion economic rescue plan:
“Late last year we directed the Treasury Department to spend $350 billion but we have seen very little accountability as to where that money has gone. We haven’t seen the impact that we expected on the credit markets, so what assurances do we have that the remaining $350 billion will be directed effectively?
“Even the TARP Oversight Panel has raised serious concerns regarding transparency and accountability. Today’s strong bipartisan vote should be a wake-up call that the Treasury Department needs to listen more closely and address the concerns being raised by Congress and the oversight panel.”
