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The $700 billion financial bailout plan has been passed by the House of Representatives. The Senate passed it Wednesday, and President Bush has signed it into law.
It's been called one of the most important and difficult votes in Congress in decades.
In the House, dozens of lawmakers switched votes, but none of Utah's congressman did.
Republican Chris Cannon voted for it.
Rob Bishop, who said he was undecided, voted "no." He said, "We are in a tough spot, and things could get worse, but Congress is acting too quickly. We do need a solution, but there are better, market-based options".
Democrat Jim Matheson, as promised, voted "no" today. He said, "I am certain this isn't the end of the difficulties we face. Economists aren't able to say that this bill is actually going to solve the credit-freeze problem." He called the bill the Senate passed "larded up with more debt."
What changed? There was a shift in public opinion after the stock market took its largest-ever one-day dive on Monday. There were a number of so-called "sweeteners," spending and tax measures including tax breaks added.
Tim Chambless, a political science professor from the University of Utah, said, "The fact is leadership needed those votes. They had been embarrassed only four days before, and they did not want to be embarrassed again."
According to Taxpayers for Common Sense on the list of tax sweeteners are: exemption from excise tax for certain wooden arrows designed for use by children and a tax break for motorsports racing track facilities.
President Bush signed the bill earlier today. He said, "By coming together on this legislation, we have acted boldly to help prevent the crisis on Wall Street from becoming a crisis in communities across the country."
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
