Dodd Says Lawmakers Agree on `Principles' of Deal (James Rowley)

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(Bloomberg) -- Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd said Republicans and Democrats have agreed on a ``set of principles'' for a financial-rescue package.

``We believe that we're prepared to act expeditiously on a package'' that will ``send a message to the markets,'' Dodd told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Republican Senator Robert Bennett of Utah said lawmakers would have legislative language by the end of the day and that the plan would pass.

``I now expect we will indeed have a plan that can pass the House, pass the Senate, be signed by the president and bring a sense of certainty to this crisis that is still roiling in the markets,'' Bennett said. ``That is our primary responsibility and I think we are now prepared to meet it.''

Dodd said that lawmakers from the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee agreed to the plan to buy troubled assets in order to calm financial markets.