Bailout

COLUMBIA --- U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and Jane Dyer agree that the economy needs rescuing.

After that, the Republican representing the 3rd Congressional District and his Democrat challenger part ways.

Last month, Mr. Barrett defied his House colleagues by voting against the first version of the $700 billion bailout bill and contributing to its narrow defeat.

A few days later, he supported the revised bill, which President Bush signed.

Ms. Dyer said she hasn't read the full text of the legislation that Congress approved, so she doesn't know whether she would have voted for it.

She is certain, though, where the blame lies: a market deregulated by Republicans and a lack of oversight from the federal government.

That isn't how Mr. Barrett sees it.

"I don't know where she's coming from with that," he said, blaming Democrats for defeating an earlier effort to strengthen accountability standards for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

He said the House of Representatives had repeatedly tried to address problems stemming from subprime mortgages but was stymied.

Mr. Barrett said that after the original $700 billion bailout bill was defeated, he worked with House leadership to make improvements in it.

"We wanted more free-market reforms," Mr. Barrett said. "Now did we get what we wanted? No. Is it a better bill? Yes. Is it a perfect bill? No."

He said outdated restrictions and policies helped create the current crisis.

Ms. Dyer also said the system could use some structural changes.

"The previous policies, after the Great Depression, of separated mortgage, banking and insurance industries obviously worked well," Ms. Dyer said. "So when you invest your money you're not going to be mixed in with risky loans.

"If you continue to vote for people who believe the free market will take care of everything, we will continue to be in this mess."