On 3 October 2008, the so-called 'Financial Institutions Bailout Bill' 
(Paulson Plan) included two sections (n? 132 and 133) relating to fair 
value (marked-to-market) accounting, the first giving authority to the 
SEC to suspend this method of accounting for reasons of public interest 
and investors protection, the second mandating further studies on its 
effects on balance sheets of firms, impact on the quality of financial 
information, and other matters.

Regarding this and many other front page issues nowadays, history of 
economic thought may aid broader understanding, as the following piece 
from Schumpeter's "Theory of Economic Development" did with evergreen 
issues of marked-to-market accounting and economics of the business firm:

http://ssrn.com/abstract=1276167

Yuri Biondi