Franken hits Coleman on bailout comments

From MPR's Mark Zdechlik:

DFL Senate candidate Al Franken is calling on Republican Senator Norm Coleman to explain comments Coleman reportedly made over the weekend suggesting the proposed financial institution bailout could earn the U.S. money. According to a Sunday Mankato Free Press report, Coleman said:

"The government could make 10 or 20 times what it pays on this, possibly."

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In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday morning, Franken said Coleman needs to explain the economics of how the bailout could be a money maker.

"When I talk to Minnesotans I am not hearing a lot of excitement about what a great pay out this investment is going to have," Franken said. "I hear a lot of worry that Washington is taking care of Wall Street but forgetting about Main Street the way it consistently has during the Bush-Coleman ear and frankly I hear a lot of out rage."

Coleman staffers told MPR that the Senator was unavailable to comment on the proposed bailout on Monday and Tuesday morning. Coleman has scheduled a conference call with reporters this afternoon to discuss it.