American International Group finally has a plan to exit the biggest of the Wall Street bailouts a month before midterm elections. But much as embattled lawmakers might wish otherwise, the book on TARP won't close anytime soon.

There's no guarantee taxpayers who gave AIG a $182 billion bailout will be made whole under the plan the company announced Thursday. Under the deal, Treasury will swap its majority stake in AIG for common stock and then sell those shares over time.