The $25 billion rescue

WASHINGTON - A federal rescue of troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could cost taxpayers as much as $25 billion, Congress’ top budget analyst said Tuesday.

But Peter R. Orszag, director of the Congressional Budget Office, predicted in a letter to lawmakers that there’s a better than 50 percent chance the government will not have to step in to prop up the companies by lending them money or buying stock.
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