The Obama administration is weighing a decision that could fundamentally change the way Americans buy houses. Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and other large banks are pressing the Treasury Department to allow private companies to bundle individual mortgages into securities, which the government would guarantee. Should this very public role be given to big banks? Should tax-payers be on the hook for guaranteeing mortgages?

Here to sort this out for us is Louise Story, Wall Street and finance reporter for our partner The New York Times.