GOP to Dissent on Financial Meltdown Report

Republicans on the 10-member Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission say they will issue a dissent to the official report scheduled for release on Jan. 27, the Washington Wire blog of the Wall Street Journal reports. The commission’s majority, who critics have accused of preparing a “hit piece,” is expected to lay blame for the 2008 financial crash on Wall Street institutions and on mortgage lenders.

The Republican dissent will emphasize the economy's part in the crisis and the government’s role in over-promoting home ownership through federal mortgage providers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Leaked stories of internal partisan warfare and staff turnover have accompanied the commission’s work since the probe began. The report is said to be based on interviews with more than 700 witnesses and millions of pages of documents.