By Molly K. Hooper, CQ Staff

From top of the leadership to the lowly rank and file, House members of both parties seem to agree that a lot of votes will be cast Friday by people who don’t fully comprehend what they’re being asked to do to the nation’s financial system.

As leaders worked to round up the votes for the bailout bill (HR 1424), lawmakers said they craved simple-language explanations of all the measure encompasses.

“Most people in this country and most people in Congress don’t know what mark-to-market means,” said Republican David L. Hobson of Ohio, who’s known in his caucus as somewhat of an investment whiz.

“We’ve had to do a real fast study of some of these exotic products out on the marketplace today, that we haven’t even heard of,” said Tom Latham , an Iowa Republican.

“We’re going to vote on a $700 billion decision and no one can articulate with any clarity,” said Robert C. Scott , a Virginia Democrat.

No one?

“I don’t know that anybody completely understands what the Senate did last night,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif.

“Those who are responsible for solving the biggest economic crisis in generations don’t have the educational background to know the difference between commercial paper and copy machine paper,” said James Bowers, the head of the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Literacy.

But Rep. Mike Thompson , D-Calif., said the literacy level is much higher now than it was just a few weeks ago. “Members, without exception, have poured themselves into this issue and worked to understand this issue,” he said. “Every member . . . in this house is bound and determined to do what they think is best, not just for their constituents but for the country.”