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House votes down bail-out package House votes down bail-out package
(about 1 hour later)
The lower house of the US Congress has voted down a $700bn (£380bn) plan aimed at bailing out Wall Street.The lower house of the US Congress has voted down a $700bn (£380bn) plan aimed at bailing out Wall Street.
The rescue plan, a result of tense talks between the government and lawmakers, was rejected by 228 to 205 votes in the House of Representatives.The rescue plan, a result of tense talks between the government and lawmakers, was rejected by 228 to 205 votes in the House of Representatives.
About two-thirds of Republican lawmakers refused to back the rescue package, as well as 95 Democrats.About two-thirds of Republican lawmakers refused to back the rescue package, as well as 95 Democrats.
Shares on Wall Street plunged within seconds of the announcement, after earlier falls on global markets. Shares on Wall Street plunged at the news, ending down more than 700 points - the biggest daily fall ever.
A White House spokesman said that President George W Bush was "very disappointed" by the result. A White House spokesman said that President George W Bush was "very disappointed" by the vote's result.
President Bush on the rejection of the bail-out plan
A US Treasury spokesman said that Mr Bush, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would meet to discuss the way forward.A US Treasury spokesman said that Mr Bush, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would meet to discuss the way forward.
The vote followed a day of turmoil in the financial sector.
  • Wachovia, the fourth-largest US bank, was bought by larger rival Citigroup in a rescue deal backed by US authorities
  • Benelux banking giant Fortis was partially nationalised by the Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg governments to ensure its survival
  • The UK government announced it was nationalising the Bradford & Bingley bank
  • Global shares fell sharply - France's key index lost 5%, Germany's main market dropped 4% while US shares plunged after the vote result was announced.
The vote followed a day of turmoil in the financial sector.
  • Wachovia, the fourth-largest US bank, was bought by larger rival Citigroup in a rescue deal backed by US authorities
  • Benelux banking giant Fortis was partially nationalised by the Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg governments to ensure its survival
  • The UK government announced it was nationalising the Bradford & Bingley bank
  • Global shares fell sharply - France's key index lost 5%, Germany's main market dropped 4% while US shares plunged after the vote result was announced.
'Global contagion'
As news of the vote came through, traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange stood dumbfounded.As news of the vote came through, traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange stood dumbfounded.
Analysts say that without a bail-out the banks will be left to handle all their own bad mortgage debt as best they can and more of them will be in danger of going bust. Analysts say that without a bail-out plan, the banks will be left to handle all their own bad mortgage debt as best they can and more of them will be in danger of going bust.
Blame game Wall Street's benchmark index suffered its biggest daily point drop ever.
So grave are the consequences of this decision, reports the BBC's Kevin Connolly from Washington, that the speaker of the house paused for several long minutes after the vote was taken before declaring it official. "There's a monster amount of fear out there," said Joe Saluzzi, a trading manager.
The no vote plunged the world of Washington politics into turmoil and the markets into deep and instant chaos, our correspondent says. "This is global contagion. It's no longer just the United States," he told Reuters news agency.
Mr Bush had argued that the bail-out plan was a "bold" one which he was confident would restore strength and confidence to the US economy.Mr Bush had argued that the bail-out plan was a "bold" one which he was confident would restore strength and confidence to the US economy.
HAVE YOUR SAY I am glad the bailout bill failed. I work five days a week, save cash and pay my bills. I did not want to pay for Corporate America's greed Lisa, Baltimore Send us your comments
But after a several hours of impassioned debate, the bill's opponents - the majority of whom were from the Republican Party - got their way.But after a several hours of impassioned debate, the bill's opponents - the majority of whom were from the Republican Party - got their way.
They had raised concerns about both the content of the plan and the speed with which they were being asked to pass it.They had raised concerns about both the content of the plan and the speed with which they were being asked to pass it.
Some agreement on issues such as oversight, greater protection for taxpayers and curbs on executive bonuses had been reached in fraught weekend talks.Some agreement on issues such as oversight, greater protection for taxpayers and curbs on executive bonuses had been reached in fraught weekend talks.
These concessions, however, ultimately failed to persuade enough lawmakers that the plan was in the best interests of the nation.These concessions, however, ultimately failed to persuade enough lawmakers that the plan was in the best interests of the nation.
Speaking after the vote, Republican leaders in the House of Representatives suggested the Democrats were to blame, accusing them of failing to mobilise their majority in the chamber. Blame game
The no vote plunged the world of Washington politics into turmoil, reports the BBC's Kevin Connolly from the US capital.
Pelosi urges bipartisan approach
So grave are the consequences of this decision, our correspondent says, that the speaker of the house paused for several long minutes after the vote was taken before declaring it official.
"The legislation has failed, the crisis has not gone away," said Nancy Pelosi, the house's Democratic speaker.
She said that 60% of Democrats had supported the bill, and urged both sides to try again to find a resolution.
"We must work in a bipartisan way in order to have another bite at the apple in terms of some legislation," she said.
Republican leaders, meanwhile, criticised a scathing speech by Ms Pelosi about the Bush administration's economic policies for injecting partisanship into the issue and scuttling the vote.
Call for calm
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke shortly after the vote, saying it was an outrage that ordinary people were being asked to clean up Wall Street's mess.Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke shortly after the vote, saying it was an outrage that ordinary people were being asked to clean up Wall Street's mess.
HAVE YOUR SAY I am glad the bailout bill failed. I work five days a week, save cash and pay my bills. I did not want to pay for Corporate America's greed Lisa, Baltimore Send us your comments
"If I am president I will review the entire plan on the day I take office to make sure that it is working to save our economy and (that) you get your money back," he said."If I am president I will review the entire plan on the day I take office to make sure that it is working to save our economy and (that) you get your money back," he said.
He added that he expected Congress to pass a bail-out bill in some form and called for calm, although he admitted the path could be a difficult one.He added that he expected Congress to pass a bail-out bill in some form and called for calm, although he admitted the path could be a difficult one.
Lawmakers from both parties called for further talks on new bail-out legislation. Mr Obama's Republican rival, John McCain, is expected to give his reaction to the bail-out bill's failure shortly.
Lawmakers from both parties have called for further talks on new bail-out legislation.
Frantic steps will now be taken to get some kind of amended version of the bill through Congress, our correspondent says.Frantic steps will now be taken to get some kind of amended version of the bill through Congress, our correspondent says.
But, he adds, this vote would have shaken the confidence of the financial world and the ability of America's leaders to come up with convincing answers at a moment of crisis.But, he adds, this vote would have shaken the confidence of the financial world and the ability of America's leaders to come up with convincing answers at a moment of crisis.
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