"Mr. Paulson on ABC's 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos' said it would be extraordinary if costs did not fall below the expenses associated with purchasing the assets."

Am I reading this right? Did he say that he expects the added costs of the new agency and the outsourcing will in all likelihood be less than the $700 billion worth of purchases?

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"[L]ater on CBS's 'Face The Nation,' Paulson said there is no guarantee Treasury won't be forced to ask for more than the $700 billion it is currently seeking.'"

Why didn't he just ask for a quajillion in the first place?