All Finance Legislation - Federal Government

Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2008 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to authorize the Special Inspector General to exercise specified employment authorities for additional personnel, but not after six months following enactment of this Act.

Authorizes the Special Inspector General to conduct, supervise, and coordinate an audit or investigation of any action taken under such Act, except any action related to: (1) graduated authorization to purchase troubled assets; (2) oversight and audits by the Comptroller General; (3) the Comptroller General's study and report on margin authority; and (4) the Congressional Oversight Panel.

Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2008 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to authorize the Special Inspector General to exercise specified employment authorities for additional personnel, but not after six months following enactment of this Act.

Authorizes the Special Inspector General to conduct, supervise, and coordinate an audit or investigation of any action taken under such Act, except any action related to: (1) graduated authorization to purchase troubled assets; (2) oversight and audits by the Comptroller General; (3) the Comptroller General's study and report on margin authority; and (4) the Congressional Oversight Panel.

FBI Priorities Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 to fund 1,000 additional Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field agents to investigate financial crimes.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a deduction from gross income for: (1) interest paid on indebtedness (up to $49,500) incurred after November 12, 2008, and before January 1, 2010, for the purchase of a motor vehicle (i.e., passenger automobile or light truck) with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 8,500 pounds; and (2) state and local sales and excise taxes imposed on the purchase of such a motor vehicle.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a deduction from gross income for: (1) interest paid on indebtedness (up to $49,500) incurred after November 12, 2008, and before January 1, 2010, for the purchase of a motor vehicle (i.e., passenger automobile or light truck) with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 8,500 pounds; and (2) state and local sales and excise taxes imposed on the purchase of such a motor vehicle.

Disapproves the obligation of any amount to purchase troubled assets under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 exceeding those already obligated (namely, $250 billion, or upon presidential certification, $350 billion outstanding at any one time).

Copper Theft Prevention Act of 2008 - Requires secondary copper recyclers (purchasers of copper that has served its original economic purpose) to keep records for at least one year of all purchases of copper property. Prohibits such recyclers from accepting cash in excess of $250 for the purchase of copper property. Imposes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for violations of this Act.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an inflation adjustment based upon the gross domestic product deflator to the adjusted basis of certain assets (including C corporation common stock and tangible property used in a trade or business) held by a taxpayer for more than three years for purposes of determining gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of such assets.

Sets forth rules for applying such inflation adjustment to short sales, regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts, partnerships and other pass-thru entities, and dispositions of assets between related persons.

Financial Crimes Accountability Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to establish within the Department of Justice (DOJ) a Special Joint Task Force on Financial Crimes to: (1) provide direction for the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes (i.e., fraud, misrepresentation, or malfeasance involving financial products); and (2) make recommendations to the Attorney General and the President on allocating resources and coordinating governmental efforts to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.

Church Plan Clarification Act of 2008 - Amends Internal Revenue Code pension plan provisions to: (1) apply a special rule for determining the status of an employer participating in a church plan as a member of a controlled group of entities; and (2) allow certain tax-free transfers to and mergers of church plans that are maintained by the same church or association of churches.

Amends the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) to apply limitations on benefits and contributions under qualified employee plans to certain church defined benefit plans.

Allows church plans and their supporting organizations to invest plan assets in a group trust (as defined by Internal Revenue Service Revenue Rulings).

Temporary Increase in FDIC and Credit Union Insurance Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to establish a temporary increase from $100,000 to $250,000, through December 31, 2009, in the maximum insured amount limitation for deposit insurance and credit union share insurance.

Prohibits the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and their affiliates from making: (1) lobbying expenditures; (2) political contributions; or (3) contributions to any nonprofit tax-exempt organization.

Declares that violating this Act shall constitute violation of federal law limiting the use of appropriated funds to influence certain federal contracting and financial transactions (thus, imposing the same penalties).