On October 3, 2008, Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. This Act mandated that the SEC conduct a study on mark-to-market accounting standards. The SEC had a 90-day period in which to conduct the study.

Required
a. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 was passed during a time of substantial stock market declines in the United States and the world. In your opinion, was Congress correct in directing a review of an accounting standard? Discuss.
b. Did the SEC play a proper role in addressing the standards that governed mark-to-market accounting? Discuss.
c. Did the SEC have the authority to change mark-to-market accounting for U.S. GAAP? Discuss.
d. Did the FASB follow its usual procedures in addressing the mark-to-market issue? Discuss.
e. Is politicization of accounting standards justified under material economic turmoil? Comment.