take on too much

But such loans may be encouraging younger and lower-income Americans to take on too much debt, according to consumer groups and some lawmakers.

But LAUSD, the second-largest school district in the country with about 420,000 students, remains a holdout, concerned that the county is asking it to take on too much legal liability under the new policy.

"I think it is arguable that the companies have been allowed to take on too much debt," he said.

Those include rules aimed at ensuring that the air and water are clean; that food, drugs, cars and consumer products are safe; and that financial firms do not take on too much risk.

While such a move could calm nervous depositors, it could have drawbacks, including removing a big disincentive for banks to take on too much risk.