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September 18, 2008 at 08:52 AM
President Bush today defended the Federal Reserve System’s decision to provide an $85 billion credit line for American International Group Inc.
Letting AIG, New York, fail “could have caused a severe disruption in our financial markets and threatened other sectors of the economy,” Bush said.
Bush justified the deal as part of “extraordinary measures” the “federal government has taken to address the challenges confronting our financial markets.”
“These actions are necessary, and they’re important,” Bush said. “And the markets are adjusting to them. Our financial markets continue to deal with serious challenges. As our recent actions demonstrate, my administration is focused on meeting these challenges. The American people can be sure we will continue to act to strengthen and stabilize our financial markets and improve investor confidence.”
Congressional leaders plan to hold hearings on the AIG credit line and the current financial markets turmoil next week.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Wednesday that the Fed’s AIG credit line deal “raises certain questions.”
