1.   Concerned about the pressure on the FASB by business interests, Levitt stepped in last year and added more public trustees to the foundation.

2.   In fact, Johnson, Ruder and Biggs are in line with the type of public trustees that Levitt has said he wanted all along.

3.   Perhaps these public trustees could make such decisions, too, if the law trusted their judgment.

4.   The public trustees come from different political parties, but they are chosen for their expertise, not their partisan positions.

5.   The public trustees will keep watch over the funds, but Palmer also hopes to see progress toward real answers.

6.   However, if the nominee is not competent to contract, then the parent of the nominee or the public trustee will be appointed.