[classicman]

From The Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Washington -- President Bush today agreed to a request from President-elect Barack Obama to notify Congress to access the second half of the $700-billion financial bailout fund, starting a 15-day period in which lawmakers must act to block the money before it is automatically released.

In a letter to congressional leaders, one of Obama's top economic advisors told lawmakers "the need is imminent and urgent" for the remaining $350 billion of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.

Bush said at his final news conference this morning that he would be willing to ask for the money on Obama's behalf to speed up the process for his incoming successor. But Bush said Obama had not asked him.

Within hours, however, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Obama formally asked Bush this morning to notify Congress for the remaining $350 billion from the program.

"President Bush agreed to the president-elect's request," she said. "We will continue our consultations with the president-elect's transition team, and with Congress, on how best to proceed in accordance with the requirements of the statute."

That article seems to have a very different spin than the was previously posted. This one seems to say that Obama asked and Bush agreed. Nothing sinister there.