Somebody AMENDED the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" to H.R. 3997 which has been hanging around since Oct 2007. Coulda it be Rangel hisself?! The very same Rangel who has been piloried by NYC media for the past 2 months about RE deals?!

And 3997 is a deal killer -- ostensibly a bill "to provide tax relief and protections for military personnel" Internal Revenue Code of 1986, it pretty much crimminalizes S-corp tax scofflaws among "other purposes".

See thomas.gov. The Paulson hardly-known-as-Dodd bill has "front page" status.

ROLL CALL is yet to be reported, but recess until 18 Jan 2009 has commenced. They voted. They also voted a 3.9% COLA for themselves in the budget appropriation.

One more thang, partisans.

AP:Chances are neither presidential candidate will be affected. Republican John McCain has taken credit for helping broker a deal_even though he never sat in on congressional negotiations and is not a member of the Banking Committee.

Barack Obama issued a statement of principles last week, and declared victory Sunday. He praised the tougher supervision of the rescue plan, aid to homeowners faced with foreclosure and the executive pay limits.

despite having supported Paulson "modernization" principles (§105(c) Regulatory Modernization Report) the stump alllll year ...

"They are identical to the things I called for the day (Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson ) released his package," Obama said. "That I think is an indication of the degree to which when it comes to protecting taxpayers, I was pushing very hard and involved in shaping those provisions."

But Democratic staffers familiar with the congressional talks say that neither Obama nor his staff had any significant involvement in shaping the package, and that all several Democrats as well as some Republicans championed the items he praised.

Those yellow-bellied Blue Dogs will be back with President Obama to front them, all shiny-like new.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.