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WASHINGTON - The US Senate voted Wednesday to treat the global economic meltdown like the September 11, 2001 terrorist strikes by creating an independent commission to investigate the causes of the crisis.
"The only way to get an objective evaluation of where mistakes were made is to create an independent commission of experts to ask what went right, what went wrong and what could we have done to prevent this," said Republican
Senator Johnny Isakson, the measure's lead sponsor.
Lawmakers voted 92-4 in favor of Isakson's amendment to broaden legislation on financial fraud that is expected to clear the Senate this week, though it would require a companion bill to pass the House before it could become law.
The new committee would have 18 months to investigate the causes of what some call the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s and report back recommendations to prevent such collapses in the future.
The panel would have the power to refer to the US Attorney General and state attorneys general any evidence that institutions or individuals may have violated existing laws.
Isakson said the committee, grouping financial experts appointed by key lawmakers from both major US parties and both chamber of the US Congress, was modeled on the commission that investigated the September 11 strikes and made recommendations to thwart future attacks.
But lawmakers, as well as federal or state government employees, would be barred from serving on the panel.
Senators by voice vote later approved another amendment, crafted by Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan and Republican Senator John McCain, to create a special Senate committee to carry out a similar mission.
"We need a select Senate committee to investigate this financial crisis and make sure it never happens again," said Dorgan, who expressed strong support for the independent commission but declared the Senate must also investigate.
In the House of Representatives, Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters that he expected the US Congress to create a commission to look into the underlying causes of the crisis and recommend ways to prevent a repeat.
"Certainly we are moving in that direction," he said.
"I think a commission certainly could be useful."
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has expressed support for creating a congressional commission on the crisis.
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