Bush says bailout will take time

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush, after having urged quick congressional action on the economic bailout plan, said implementing it would take time.

The stabilization measure signed Friday provides, among other things, up to $700 billion for the Treasury Department to buy bad debt, Bush said while in San Antonio, "but it's going to take a while to get in place a program that, one, is effective; (and) two, that doesn't waste taxpayers' money."

It also would take a while "to restore confidence in the financial system," Bush said. "But one thing people can be certain of is that the bill I signed is a big step toward solving this problem."