The most immediate objective in Paulson's regulatory blueprint--and one he thinks could become a reality before he leaves office next year--is the creation of a Mortgage Origination Commission that would establish minimum standards for mortgage brokers and would grade each state's mortgage regulatory system.
The deal with Tewoo-ERDC is a five-year agreement that will see a minimum of 12, 000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate delivered to the Chinese commodity trader.
In fact, the minimum reading skill level required of new factory workers has risen from the 10th grade reading level to the equivalent of two years of college or more.
They indicate the minimum score on each of the four subject tests for a student who has a 75% chance of earning a grade of C or higher or a 50% chance of earning a B or higher in a typical first-year college course.