Lawmakers on Capitol Hill seem determined to work together to pass a bill that will get the credit markets churning again. But will they do it this week, as some had hoped just a few days ago? Don’t count on it.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, says his office has gotten “close to zero” calls in support of the $700 billion plan proposed by the administration. He doubts it’ll happen immediately either. “I don’t think it has to be a week” he says. “If we do it right, then we need to take as long as it needs.”

“The secretary and the administration need to know that what they have sent to us is not acceptable,” says Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn. The committee’s top Republican, Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, says he’s concerned about its cost and whether it will even work.

In fact, some of the most basic details, including the $700 billion figure Treasury would use to buy up bad debt, are fuzzy.

“It’s not based on any particular data point,” a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. “We just wanted to choose a really large number.”

What!

I was inclined on 1st hearing to give Paulson and Bernanke the benefit of a doubt. The longer I reflect, the more time I spend investigating, evaluating, I think this is a bill with no real benefit to working people.

Speaking to friends in banking IT, those working in solvent banks accustomed to living by the rules – they said the credit “squeeze” lasted about 24 hours. Fact is, they can proceed on the assets they have. Which is what they’re supposed to be able to do.

BTW, I went to congress.org to express my opposition to the bailout – and that number is running at 91%…

Thanks, Justin