Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Title I - Troubled Assets Relief Program
Sec. 133. Study on Mark-to-Market Accounting.
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STUDY.The Securities and Exchange Commission, in consultation with the Board and the Secretary, shall conduct a study on mark-to-market accounting standards as provided in Statement Number 157 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, as such standards are applicable to financial institutions, including depository institutions. Such a study shall consider at a minimum
the effects of such accounting standards on a financial institutions balance sheet;
the impacts of such accounting on bank failures in 2008;
the impact of such standards on the quality of financial information available to investors;
the process used by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in developing accounting standards;
the advisability and feasibility of modifications to such standards; and
alternative accounting standards to those provided in such Statement Number 157.
REPORT.The Securities and Exchange Commission shall submit to Congress a report of such study before the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act containing the findings and determinations of the Commission, including such administrative and legislative recommendations as the Commission determines appropriate.
General Comments on Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
I was interested to see this section requiring a study of mark-to-market accounting impact on the run-up to the crisis. My interest stems from my work on building IT tools to audit and enforce compliance with several post-Enron governance standards. Also, former Clinton Treasure Secretary Rubin called attention to these dubious (my word) practices on a recent Charlie Rose show and the impact they have had in masking the behaviors that have brought about this crisis from investor and customer scrutiny.