納稅人的250億美元代價
由於對美國國際集團和通用汽車公司的救助，納稅人付出了420億美元的“投資”虧損。與此同時，又從美利堅銀行、花旗、富國等銀行獲得195億美元的利息收入。
從今天開始，美利堅銀行再也不欠你我這些納稅人的錢了，看來，我們可以少操一份虧損的心了。
對美國國際集團和通用汽車救助的不合理性，將成為下一次總統選舉時，我不投票支持奧巴馬的主要原因。
作為納稅人，你還留念這位總統嗎？
對於這兩家公司的救助，實際上並不是在救助美國經濟。
【附錄】：Net US TARP Costs In Fiscal Year 2009 Estimated At $42B
12/9/09，By Meena Thiruvengadam
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--The U.S. estimates its unpopular Troubled Asset Relief Program cost taxpayers a net of $41.6 billion in fiscal year 2009 as expected losses from aid to American automakers and to the American International Group (AIG) offset earnings from other expenditures under the program.
The figures, calculated by the U.S. Treasury, were contained in financial statements audited by the Government Accountability Office and released in a report from that office late Wednesday.
The report shows aid provided to AIG through the TARP cost taxpayers $30.43 billion in fiscal year 2009, while aid to the struggling auto sector cost taxpayers $30.47 billion.
It shows the government earned $19.5 billion from other programs in the financial rescue package, bringing the net costs of TARP through September to $41.6 billion. That figure includes some spending on the Obama administration's foreclosure prevention effort and the program's $167 million in administrative expenses.
The GAO, however, noted the numbers are "inherently subject to substantial uncertainty" stemming from unpredictable changes in financial markets, the general economy and the regulatory sphere.
"The estimates have an added uncertainty arising from the uniqueness of transactions for the multiple TARP initiatives and the lack of historical information and program experience upon which to base the estimates," its report said.
The GAO noted that the program's internal controls could be improved but said it so far has found no reportable instances of noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The report's release comes just days after the government revised its estimates for the program's costs over the next decade, lowering them by $200 billion to $141 billion. It also comes on the day Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner acted to keep the TARP alive through next year.
Geithner earlier Wednesday sent lawmakers a letter that paves the way for the TARP to continue through October 2010. Without that letter, the TARP would have expired at the end of this year.
【附錄】：Bank Of America Repays $45B In TARP Funds
12/10/09，By Marshall Eckblad
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Bank of America Corp. (BAC) has paid back its $45 billion in TARP funds, marking an official end to the Charlotte bank's most chaotic chapter, in which it counted the U.S. government as a reluctant and hard-nosed investor.
"We owe taxpayers our thanks for making these funds available to the nation's financial system and to our company during a very difficult time," said outgoing Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis, in a statement.
The federal government first injected capital into Bank of America as part of its initial rescue of the entire financial system last year through the Troubled Asset Relief Program; subsequently, it rushed in again to save the bank as it started to crumble under its crisis-hour purchase of Wall Street titan Merrill Lynch & Co.
Lewis may be less grateful behind closed doors. The bank's final bill for the government's investment: About $2.7 billion in cash dividends, a difficult and enduring search for a new CEO, and an unquantifiable hit to its reputation.
The easy work for Bank of America was paying Uncle Sam regular cash dividends for its two investments in the bank. In fact, being relieved of that duty will save the bank more than $3.6 billion for all of next year.
But scraping off other residue from the government's investment will be harder. The bank is midstream in a search for a new CEO after Lewis faced months of scrutiny over his handling of the Merrill Lynch purchase and then said he would retire at year-end. A number of qualified external candidates rebuffed the bank's overtures and two of the remaining internal candidates - President of Consumer Banking Brian Moynihan and Chief Risk Officer Gregory Curl - have faced themselves faced government scrutiny over their own roles in the Merrill deal.
Bank of America's shares closed Wednesday down 0.1% to $15.39.
Bank of America's exit from TARP has put pressure on other banks that hold TARP funds to announce exit plans of their own. Citigroup Inc. (C), which accepted more than $50 billion, and Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), which accepted $25 billion, are the two largest banks by assets to still count the U.S. taxpayer as an investor. They haven't said when they plan to exit TARP, which must be approved by regulators. Both banks are currently wrestling with regulators over those terms, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC), the fifth-largest U.S. bank by assets, said Tuesday it hasn't changed its plans to repay its $7.6 billion in TARP funds next year. To pay back its own TARP funds, Bank of America raised $19.3 billion in fresh capital. The Federal Reserve is also requiring the company to increase equity by about $3 billion through asset sales. The Treasury continues to hold warrants to buy Bank of America common stock that the government demanded as part of the TARP investment. The Treasury recently started auctioning off similar warrants it holds from other banks, like Capital One Financial Corp. (COF) that accepted TARP funds and have since paid them back.
The Treasury on Wednesday said it has so far received $116 billion in TARP repayments from American banks, including the funds from Bank of America. It continues to forecast TARP payments will reach $175 billion by the end of 2010.
Further, the Treasury on Wednesday said it expects "every one" of its programs aimed at stabilizing the banking system - including those geared toward providing additional aid to Citigroup and Bank of America - will earn a profit.
The Treasury expects its fiscal year 2009 bank capital infusions will earn it a profit of $19 billion.
