Blunt Walks Timetable Back

BUT ADDS . . . PROGRESS IS BEING MADE, AND THAT LAWMAKERS WOULD WORK THROUGH THE NIGHT IF NECESSARY

Rep. Roy Blunt seemed to walk back his comments about a Sunday night deadline for a bailout Saturday, according to The Politico.

The top Republican negotiator in the House told reporters Saturday afternoon that Congress will not move on "any kind of artificial timeline" to finalize an economic rescue package before the markets open Monday morning.

"Somebody, maybe it was Einstein, said things should be done as quickly as possible but no quicker than possible," Republican Whip Roy Blunt told reporters Saturday afternoon before heading into a negotiating session with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.

"We're not moving on any kind of artificial timeline," Blunt said as reported by Politico. "We're moving toward the very best solution in the shortest period of time."

But earlier Saturday on FOX, Blunt said a deal "needs to happen by Sunday."

Also from the Politico piece:

"In a bit of posturing before the negotiations, Blunt and other House Republicans called on Democrats to remove proposals that would give bankruptcy judges more authority to re-work mortgages and limit the portion of potential revenue generated by this debt-buying program that goes to a recently established affordable housing trust fund. Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, a lead author of the GOP alternative, also complained about language in the proposal that Republicans believe would benefit labor unions."