Oct. 4--U.S. Reps. Howard Coble of Greensboro and Sue Myrick of Charlotte, both Republicans, switched their votes Friday to support the bailout bill.

Little changed in the bill beyond some tax sweeteners, but Coble cited at least two things he likes: the increase in FDIC insurance of savings accounts from $100,000 to $250,000, and an alternative minimum tax patch that he said will help 21 million middle-class families.

"A good move," Coble said in a speech Friday morning.

He also said his phone calls and e-mail messages swung from nearly universal opposition to the bailout to overwhelming support. "I've weighed this very carefully, and by waiting I think we've improved the bill," Coble said.

Myrick cited a need to avoid a "catastrophic credit meltdown."

"I don't want to have to vote for this bill, and I'm not defending it," she said, adding that it's "full of things that I don't believe in."

"But, we're on the cusp of a complete catastrophic credit meltdown. There is no liquidity in the market. We are out of time. Either you believe that fact or you don't. I do."

Myrick said she was worried that if Congress didn't act now, "devastating unemployment" would follow, and the nation was "simply out of time."

Here's how N.C. House members voted on a bailout of the financial markets, a bill that passed the House on Friday with a 263-171 vote.

FOR: Democrats Mel Watt, Bob Etheridge, David Price and Brad Miller; Republicans Howard Coble and Sue Myrick.

AGAINST: Republicans Robin Hayes, Virginia Foxx, Patrick McHenry and Walter Jones; Democrats G.K. Butterfield, Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre.

CLEAN ENERGY EMERGES A WINNER

The federal bailout package salvages a slew of financial incentives for clean energy and also throws in some new sweeteners to encourage efficiency and conservation.

Energy efficiency upgrades to existing homes, enacted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, were set to expire this year but will now be extended. The benefits include a 30 percent tax credit for solar energy, without the $2,000 cap required by the 2005 legislation.

Other benefits include a tax credit for residential wind power, geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, storm doors and Energy Star-rated windows.

A $2,000 tax credit toward the purchase of an energy-efficient new home that was set to expire this year also was extended.

The package includes a new tax credit for plug-in electric cars. The credit will be at least $2,500.

For non-residential uses, the package extends a tax deduction for commercial energy-efficient buildings. It also extends tax credits for generating power from such alternative energies as solar, biomass, hydroelectric and wind. And it offers a tax credit for a new "marine renewable" resource: tidal and wave technologies.

For large industries, the package authorizes $800 million in bonds to finance renewable energy facilities. It also includes tax credits for capturing carbon dioxide from coal-burning power plants and burying the gas underground.

JOHN MURAWSKI

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