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Local Congressmen Speak On Senate's Bailout Bill

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Oct 2, 2008 5:45 pm US/Eastern

Local Congressmen Speak On Senate's Bailout Bill

Reporting
Jon Delano
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Members of the U.S. House of Representatives headed back to Washington today to face the music written by their Senate colleagues last night.

"We've sent a clear message to America -- to all America -- that we will not let this economy fail," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, surrounded by both Republican and Democratic Senate leaders.

But it will now take approval from the House -- which narrowly rejected the bail-out bill on Monday -- for the rescue plan to become law.

President Bush repeated his call for action.

"The House of Representatives must listen to these voices and get this bill passed so we can get about the business of restoring confidence."

But local Congressman Tim Murphy, a Republican who voted no on Monday, is not yet convinced.

"I really want to look at a more careful analysis of what's in that bill and as well as the impact of this in the long-term, not just the short term," Murphy told KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano.

"So is it fair to say that you're undecided as of yet about which way you're going to vote on this?," Delano asked.

"Yes, but let's say I still have serious concerns about it," Murphy added.

Murphy says he's getting lots of phone calls after the Senate vote -- and many constituents want him to continue to vote against the bill.

Another local congressman who voted no, Democrat Jason Altmire, says he will not switch votes -- even though the Senate added some sweeteners that he likes.

"They did not make enough changes to the underlying bill -- the bail out provisions -- to gain my support."

"So you will vote no again?" Delano asked Altmire.

"I do plan on voting against it. I don't think this is enough of a change to merit me changing my vote."

But Congressman Mike Doyle, a Democrat who supported the bill on Monday, says another defeat would be devastating.

"I think you'll see another bad reaction from the market if we fail to pass this thing tomorrow, too. In one day we lost over a trillion dollars. That hits everybody's pension funds," Doyle noted.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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