All posts by Betsy Muse

Take Action to Save Family Homes Now!

There is still time to push “Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009” or H.R. 1106.  The vote will finally be held in the House later today.

Rep. Brad Miller of North Carolina has worked for years to protect consumers from predatory lenders and now he’s battling the banking industry to clean up the mess these same lenders have made. He has introduced legislation that will prevent the foreclosure of millions of homes.  The legislation, H.R. 1106 – or Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, was on the House floor for a vote last week, but last minute wavering of Blue Dog Democrats required that the vote be postponed.

Republicans and some Democrats are buying into the hype created by the banking industry. Most of the talking points are flat out lies and much of what is being regurgitated by those members standing in opposition shows they have a profound lack of understanding of the legislation.

Follow below the fold for a rundown and an action plan.

Republicans and other opponents of the bill want to blame the mortgage crisis on borrowers saying they were dishonest and irresponsible.  Rep. Virginia Foxx from North Carolina put it into words on the House floor on Thursday.

It’s some consolation that North Carolina can boast a few very progressive representatives to help balance a woman who so easily spews talking points laced with hate-based code words.  Later in the day, North Carolina’s Brad Miller, NC-13, closed the debate.

Contrary to what Republicans claim, this is not welfare.  This is not a bailout.  This is not permanent.  Dishonest Borrowers can’t get their mortgages modified.  This will not increase the cost of capital.  This will not make it harder to get mortgages in the future for those who are paying their mortages on time now.

Every other asset – yachts, business properties, jets, vacation homes, investment properties – are eligible to have their principal loan amounts modified in bankruptcy.  For some reason, Republicans wish for us to think that it is only offering this option for a limited time to a limited number of borrowers that will increase the cost of capital.  It simply isn’t true.

Please call and email your representatives in Washington.  I’ve made it easy for you.  I’m posting scripts to get your started and contact information for the representatives you sent to Washington.  No excuses.  Get to work!

Here is a simple script for a call:

Hi.  My name is _____.  I live in the first/second/third, etc. district.  I’m calling to encourage Rep. _____ to support H.R. 1106, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009. We are not going to stop the downward spiral of our economy until we stop the collapse of home values. And we are not going to stop the collapse of home values until we get control of foreclosures.  This important legislation will provide mortgage lenders with more motivation to voluntarily work with customers to save their homes.  Again, I urge Rep. __________ to support H.R. 1106.

Here is a simple script for an email:

Dear Representative _______________

I urge you to vote for H.R. 1106, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009.  It is important legislation that will help stop the collapse of home values and the downward spiral of our economy by giving us more control over home foreclosures.

Most of these homeowners were not irresponsible or dishonest when they bought their homes and those that were will not be able to modify their mortgages through this legislation.

We’ve bailed out the financial services industry.  It’s time we did something to help average citizens stay in their homes.

Thank you for supporting H.R. 1106.

[Update] – If you would like to add congressional specific foreclosure numbers you can use these.  The entire file is found at Scribd. h/t Congress Matters.







Contact Information

If you aren’t sure which district you live in, you can go here.  Otherwise, use the list below.

U.S. House

Rep. Mike Thompson, CA-01

202-225-3311

email

Rep. Wally Herger, CA-02

202-225-3076

email

Rep. Dan Lungren, CA-03

202-225-5716

email

Rep. Tom McClintock, CA-04

202-225-2511

email

Rep. Doris Matsui, CA-05

202-225-7163

email

Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey, CA-06

202-225-5161

email

Rep. George Miller, CA-07

202-225-2095

email

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, CA-08,

202-225-4965

email

Rep. Barbara Lee, CA-09

202-225-2661

email

Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher, CA-10

202-225-1880

email

Rep. Jerry McNerney, CA-11

202-225-1947

email

Rep. Jackie Speier, CA-12

202-225-3531

email

Rep. Fortney (Pete) Stark, CA-13

202-225-5065

email

Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, CA-14

202-225-8104

email

Rep. Mike Honda, CA-15

202-225-2631

email

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, CA-16

202-225-3072

email

Rep. Sam Farr, CA-17

202-225-2861

email

Rep. Dennis Cardoza, CA-18

202-225-6131

email

Rep. George P. Radanovich, CA-19

202-225-4540

email

Rep. Jim Costa, CA-20

202-225-3341

email

Rep. Devin Nunes, CA-21

202-225-2523

email

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, CA-22

202-225-2915

email

Rep. Lois Capps, CA-23

202-225-3601

email

Rep. Elton Gallegly, CA-24

202-225-5811

email

Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon, CA-25

202-225-1956

email

Rep. David Dreier, CA-26

202-225-2305

email

Rep. Brad Sherman, CA-27

202-225-5911

email

Rep. Howard L. Berman, CA-28 D

202-225-4695

email

Rep. Adam Schiff, CA-29

202-225-4176

email

Rep. Henry A. Waxman, CA-30

202-225-3976

email

Rep. Xavier Becerra, CA-31

202-225-6235

email

CA32 Vacant  202-225-5464   N/A N/A

Rep. Diane E. Watson, CA-33

202-225-7084

email

CA34 Lucille Roybal-Allard D 2330 Rayburn House Office Building 202-225-1766 213-628-9230 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ http://www.house.gov/roybal-al…

CA35 Maxine Waters D 2344 Rayburn House Office Building 202-225-2201 323-757-8900 http://www.house.gov/waters/IM… http://www.house.gov/waters/

CA36 Jane Harman D 2400 Rayburn House Office Building 202-225-8220 310-643-3636 http://www.house.gov/harman/co… http://www.house.gov/harman/

CA37 Laura Richardson D 1725 Longworth House Office Building 202-225-7924 562-436-3828 http://richardson.house.gov/IM… http://richardson.house.gov/

CA38 Grace Napolitano D 1610 Longworth House Office Building 202-225-5256 562-801-2134 http://www.napolitano.house.go… http://www.napolitano.house.gov/

CA39 Linda T. Sanchez D 1222 Longworth House Office Building 202-225-6676 562-860-5050 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ http://lindasanchez.house.gov/

CA40 Edward R. Royce R 2185 Rayburn House Office Building 202-225-4111 714-744-4130 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ http://www.house.gov/royce/

CA41 Jerry Lewis R 2112 Rayburn House Office Building 202-225-5861 800-233-1700 http://www.house.gov/jerrylewi… http://www.house.gov/jerrylewis/

CA42 Gary Miller R 2438 Rayburn House Office Building 202-225-3201 714-257-1142 http://garymiller.house.gov/Co… http://garymiller.house.gov/

CA43 Joe Baca D 2245 Rayburn House Office Building 202-225-6161 909-885-2222 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ http://www.house.gov/baca/

CA44 Ken Calvert R 2201 Rayburn House Office Building 202-225-1986 949-496-2343 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ http://calvert.house.gov/

Rep. Mary Bono Mack, CA-45

202-225-5330

email

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, CA-46

202-225-2415

email

Rep. Loretta Sanchez, CA-47

202-225-2965

email

Rep. John Campbell, CA-48

202-225-5611

email

Rep. Darrell Issa, CA-49

202-225-3906

email

Rep. Brian Bilbray, CA-50

202-225-0508

email

Rep. Bob Filner, CA-51

202-225-8045

email

Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, CA-52

202-225-5672

email

Rep. Susan A. Davis, CA-53

202-225-2040

email

For more information on this legislation:

Rep. Brad Miller’s live-blog at BlueNC.

Rep. Brad Miller’s Q&A in Greensboro’s News & Record

Article in Charlotte Observer

CNN Money article

Editorial for Greensboro News & Record

Representative Miller’s testimony before Judiciary Committee (PDF)