Government Rescue Spending: Clear or Cloudy?

More Money for AIG?

The problem, critics say, is that it's unclear exactly how much money AIG actually needs because there is no certainty about how much the insurance giant will ultimately lose as a result of its credit default swaps -- insurance contracts that kick in when investments such as mortgage-backed securities fail.

"Not only do people not understand what's on the books, it's impossible to put a fair valuation on them," said Barry Ritholtz, the author of "Bailout Nation: How Easy Money Corrupted Wall Street and Shook the World Economy" and the CEO of the institutional research firm Fusion IQ.

Critics question whether the government will have to provide even more money to AIG.

Brookly McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Treasury Department, said she wouldn't speculate on whether the recently-restructured AIG package was enough.

But, she said, "we think that the steps taken today are important to giving them a more sustainable capital structure and helping them to be better able to execute their asset disposition."

Which Banks Get the Bucks

Under the government's $700 billion rescue package, $250 billion is supposed to be allocated directly to banks.

By infusing banks with capital, the program aims "to increase the flow of financing to businesses and consumers to support our economy," Kashkari said at the securities summit.

The Treasury last month named nine big banks that would receive funding through the program –- known as the Capital Purchase Program –- and how much money each would receive. (A list is available here.) Kashkari said Monday that hundreds of other financial institutions have applied for the funds and that "a number of them" had been granted preliminary approval.

But the Treasury isn't revealing which banks have applied and which have received preliminary approval. McLaughlin said that the department would only provide information on banks that have already received money from the program.

When "everything is finalized, that's when it's appropriate to post that information," she said.

Some say the Treasury should be disclosing the names of the institutions that have applied for its help.

"I think that any time you're asking for money from the government, it should be a matter of public record," Allison said.