The Third Amendment – A Breeding Ground For Secrecy And Corruption

Cause of Action - September 2, 2015 - September 3, 2015

By David Fisher

Three truisms will collide this Friday in a Federal courtroom in Washington DC. The first two truisms – “secrecy breeds corruption” and “follow the money” – make the failure to disclose documents relating to an under-the-radar agreement that has generated billions of dollars for the United States Treasury exceedingly troubling. Cause of Action, and others, think the public has a right to know about this deal and its genesis.

During the 2008 financial crisis, taxpayers bailed out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at a cost of $187.5 billion. This bailout was styled as a loan and for several years Fannie and Freddie paid the interest due on this loan. By 2012 Fannie and Freddie were again profitable. In August 2012, Fannie, Freddie, the Department of Treasury and Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) amended their deal with what is called “the Third Amendment.” Under the Third Amendment, the government began sweeping all the companies’ profits into the Treasury. As of last December 2014, the Treasury had received a total of $225.4 billion from the companies – $40.8 billion more than they borrowed from taxpayers.

Read the full article: The Third Agreement – A Breeding Ground For Secrecy And Corruption