Paulson Says $250 Billion Buy Only the Beginning, Report Says

By: • Wed, Oct 15 2008, 9:57 AM

In an interview with the Financial Times, U.S. Treasury secretary Henry Paulson says his rescue plan is "getting at the root causes" of the financial crisis.

Still, he said, "we have more work to do" and the plan is not an "end to financial stress." Paulson said the $250 billion spent today is only the beginning.

He says he'll continue to inject capital, and investors will become more and more comfortable putting their money in banks.

Paulson said the case by case actions he was forced to take prior to the bailout were inefficient, and that he is now "more optimistic."

"History teaches that coming in earlier ultimately reduces the cost to the taxpayer," he said.