The measure would send federal loans and grants to cities and counties hit hardest by the housing crisis so they could buy and fix up foreclosed properties. It passed the Financial Services Committee 38-26, mostly along party lines.The House bill comes after action in the Senate has already been taken, and as a general consensus around how to help communities deal with the foreclosure crisis is emerging in the Democratic majority. The bottom line is that individuals and communities need to be put first, before tax bailouts to developers.
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The plan is aimed at complementing a broader housing overhaul package whose centerpiece would let hundreds of thousands of struggling homeowners refinance into more affordable, government-insured loans. That bill is expected to get a committee vote next week, and both measures are expected to move through the House the week after.
The bill approved Wednesday would provide $15 billion, half in loans and half in grants, to states with high foreclosure rates. Money would go to the most populous cities and counties based on their foreclosure rates, and to smaller towns that are severely affected. Low- and middle-income neighborhoods would be a priority and aid would be focused on the poorest people and those who had already lost their homes to foreclosure. - The New York Times
In spite of procedural hurdles and obstruction from Republicans, our Democratic Congress continues to work hard on the issues that are important to the American people. It's not glamorous and it's not easy, doing the work of the People in the People's House, but that's what the Democrats in Congress are doing. So support your local democratic candidate in November, and help recover American strength, one bill at a time.
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