Predatory Lenders to Veterans

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Featheriver


Good evening,

I want to make sure you heard a piece of news from Capitol Hill today.

This morning, Holly Petraeus, who has been leading an office at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect military families, went to Capitol Hill to highlight some of the most abusive practices our service members face in today’s financial marketplace.

She explained that military families are the targets of predatory lenders. She talked about how many service members and their families struggle to make ends meet — especially during deployments. And she said that the CFPB will help combat the lenders who try to take advantage of people with deceptive, unfair, and abusive lending practices.

But here’s the thing: The Senate still hasn’t confirmed President Obama’s nominee to lead the CFPB, a former Attorney General from Ohio named Rich Cordray. The bureau needs a director to fully ensure that the debt collectors, private student loan providers, and payday loan providers are properly supervised and that consumers are not put at risk of falling prey to the same kinds of abusive practices that helped cause the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Rich has spent his career advocating for middle class families, and enjoys broad, bipartisan support from the elected officials, business leaders, and consumer groups who have worked with him.

Take a minute to read what Holly had to say, and share her testimony with those you know.

Holly Petraeus is the daughter of a decorated general, wife of a four-star general, and mother of an Army soldier who served in Afghanistan.  I don’t know if there’s anyone who better understands what it means to be part of an American military family.

She just gets the stress and challenges that those who serve in uniform, as well as their loved ones, face.

And that’s exactly why she joined the CFPB, to safeguard our military personnel and their families.

Republicans in Congress could be taking steps to grow the economy by passing the American Jobs Act. There is no reason why John Boehner should send his members home to their districts without passing a single measure President Obama has proposed to help put the country back on track. Nor is there any reason why the Senate should require 60 votes on these proposals. Republicans could be helping to ensure that Joe very American family gets a tax cut. And Republicans should be working to protect consumers by confirming Rich Cordray.

We can’t wait. That’s why I want you to hear from Holly Petraeus. I want everyone to understand how much sense it makes for the Senate to put Rich Cordray to work.

So check it out.

Thanks,

Vice President Joe Biden

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Republican House gives the finger to the EPA

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Featheriver

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

“The Environmental Protection Agency has been looking into better ways to regulate coal ash since there are huge, huge pits of the stuff sitting around aging coal fire plants all over the country. Often, as in Wisconsin today, they are conveniently poised right next to the source of drinking water for millions of people. Two weeks ago, Republicans in the House voted to block the EPA from being able to do anything about this. They voted to block the EPA from having authority over coal ash which, after all, the industry says is healthy, absolutely nothing to worry about. Lake Michigan full of coal ash? Well, that’s no different than Lake Michigan with no coal ash in it. Have a sip, take a dip, eat some fish, it’s fine.” -

Rachel Maddow on the lack of regulations leading up to Monday’s Oak Creek, Wisconsin coal ash spill. It happens to have occurred in Republican Paul Ryan’s district.

The house, remember, a couple of days ago passed the resolution reaffirming the motto that “We Trust in God.” I sure hope God intervenes and cleans up the mess. Republicans don’t care about it.

No work done in the House on creating jobs, however. at least to my knowledge.

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Republicans fiddle while nation falls apart

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Featheriver

Yesterday, November 1, 2011, the United States’ House of Representatives were working hard to represent us 99%’ers. Yessiree, they voted 396 to 9 to reaffirm “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States! What a relief.

Nevada’s Mark Amodei, Joe Heck and Shelley Berkley all voted yea. Bipartisanship in action! While millions of Americans are jobless the House spends their time fiddling with mottos!

Meanwhile President Obama continues pushing Congress to enact his Jobs Plan.

And Occupy(name the city) continues on.

[Source: House of Representatives]

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President Obama’s Jobs Plan

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Featheriver

is_it_a_jobs_plan

Unfortunately, even as the President is doing all he can through his executive powers in the “We Can’t Wait” campaign, the American Jobs Act is being blocked by Republicans in the Senate who have voted in unison against these common sense, broadly supported proposals, and Republicans in the House refuse to even give the bill a vote.  Senate Republicans have offered their own alternative as an excuse to oppose the President’s plan, but a look at them side by side leads to only one conclusion: one is truly a jobs plan, and one is not. –Dan Pfeiffer, White House Communications Director, November 2, 2011.

 

[Source: The White House Blog ]

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Obama Pushes Jobs—and Congress

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Featheriver

ObamaMitt Romney appears to be the next Republican candidate for the Presidency of the United States. The remainder in the rather long list of wanna-be’s are just window-dressing. They are either too inexperienced or are just interested in limited issues, or too extreme. The world is far too complicated for rookies. But then I’m a Democrat, not a Republican, I look at the world in a different light.

Among the most pressing of political issues, to me, is jobs for the unemployed and underemployed. I’m retired now, but for the overall economy jobs remain important to me because when many do well, so do I. It is inherent in the observation that a rising tide raises all boats. Over that last few decades the boats of the 1% of the population income has risen by 275% between 1979 and 2007. For 20% of the population it has grown by 65% but not nearly as fast as for the top 1 percent. For 60% of the population it has grown just under 40%. For the lowest 20% of the population income was about 18% higher in 2007 than it had been in 1979. That would be the 99%. You and I live in the 99%. [See the Congressional Budget Office report of October 2011:  Trends in the Distribution of Household Income Between 1979 and 2007]

When I watch and listen to the Republican Presidential candidates I hear very little related to job creation. I hear much more about the single Republican issue which is to get rid of President Obama in 2012. Maybe I don’t hear it all, but that is what stands out to me.

After dilly-dallying with the Congress for over two years in his office President Obama kept trying to engage the Congress in bi-partisan resolutions to correct the myriad of problems in the United States. What I have seen was simple snubbing of the President on working on those problems. The theme seemed and seems to be that if President Obama is proposing a solution the Republicans in Congress are opposing it. They apparently are not interested in you or me, or the country, just regaining the White House.

I became exasperated with President Obama because he could apparently not comprehend the trend of the GOP. He was far more patient than I. But he seems to have finally caught on. In his weekly address to the nation he announced “We Can’t Wait to Create Jobs” taking actions to help families refinance their mortgages, put veterans to work, and lower the cost of student loans. [White House Blog]

He has circumvented Congress, and gone straight to the people explaining his American Jobs Act asking every American to put pressure on their representatives in Congress to pass the Act. Whether the American people rally to the call remains to be seen. Assuming the American people do act, it remains to be seen what the individual members of Congress do. Will they react to the will of the people or ignore their constituents and continue their representation of corporate interests—those that finance their re-election campaigns.

Last Saturday, October 29, 2011 President Obama stated, “Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress aren’t paying attention.  They’re not getting the message.  Over and over, they have refused to even debate the same kind of jobs proposals that Republicans have supported in the past – proposals that today are supported, not just by Democrats, but by Independents and Republicans all across America.  And yet, somehow, they found time this week to debate things like whether or not we should mint coins to celebrate the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Meanwhile, they’re only scheduled to work three more weeks between now and the end of the year.

“The truth is, we can no longer wait for Congress to do its job.  The middle-class families who’ve been struggling for years are tired of waiting.  They need help now.  So where Congress won’t act, I will.”

And he is, issuing Executive Orders, where he can but depending on the American people to get the Jobs bill passed. With the obstacles the GOP puts in place it is a tough row to hoe. But he is really trying. Are you? Our Nevada congressional representatives may not be on board yet, help Senator Dean Heller, Shelley Berkley, Mark Amodei and Joe Heck see the light. Drop them a note.

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Nevada Republican Mark Amodei endorses Mitt Romney

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Featheriver

clip_image001Newly-elected GOP Rep. Mark Amodei threw his endorsement behind Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign on Wednesday, saying the former Massachusetts governor was “best equipped” to win over Nevada voters.

Amodei — elected last month to the state’s second congressional district — released a statement saying “The economy is in crisis and President Obama’s fixes are not working.”

Romney endorsed Amodei during the latter’s campaign for the House.

Two other Nevada Republicans, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and Rep. Joe Heck, have also endorsed Romney’s campaign.

Gov. Brian Sandoval has already endorsed Romney’s rival Rick Perry for president. [Fox5, Las Vegas]

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Romney supports limiting unions

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Featheriver

clip_image001Romney supports efforts to limit unions. “I fully support [Ohio Republican] Governor Kasich’s, I think it’s called Question 2 in Ohio. Fully support that,” he said. He said he supports Governor Kasich “110%.” [New York Times]

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Media Matters wants MSNBC to drop Pat Buchanan as a bigot

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Featheriver

Republican Pat Buchanan is a frequent guest on some of MSNBC’s talk shows.

 

Media Matters

October 25, 2011

Dear Friend,

MSNBC has a Pat Buchanan problem and it’s time they stop ignoring it.

This week Buchanan, a paid MSNBC analyst, has appeared across the media promoting a new book. Here are just a few examples of his conduct during this publicity tour:

  • Buchanan appeared on a “pro-white” radio program, where he attacked America’s increasing diversity and warned that the country would face numerous problems when whites become a minority.[1]
  • When pressed by a radio host to explain his warning that test scores will decline “as more and more of the children taking those tests will be African-American and Hispanic,” Buchanan refused to disavow the idea that non-whites have inferior genes.[2]
  • Buchanan argued that blacks and whites were more unified during segregation than they are today. [3]

The bigotry on display isn’t all that surprising when you consider the book being promoted. Buchanan’s thesis is that America is “disintegrating” because “white America is an endangered species.”

MSNBC has the power to send a message that it will not tolerate bigotry by its employees, on its airwaves or off.

Tell MSNBC it’s time to sanction Buchanan.

In 2009, the Anti-Defamation League called Buchanan an “unrepentant bigot” and noted that he “increasingly demonizes Jews, blacks, and non-white immigrants.” The ADL expressed concern over “national media outlets legitimiz[ing] Buchanan’s decades-long history of anti-Semitism and bigotry by presenting him as a respectable source of political commentary and ignoring his publicly hateful statements and open affiliations with anti-Semites and racists.” [4]

Indeed. And, Buchanan’s recent tour has only reinforced the ADL’s concerns.

Tell MSNBC it’s stop ignoring Buchanan’s bigotry and sanctioning him.

MSNBC has a record of holding its employees accountable.

Several years ago, the network dropped the simulcast of Don Imus’ radio program citing “a very long list of inappropriate comments.” [5]

And Buchanan has a long history of bigoted and inappropriate remarks.

  • During the Nixon administration he reportedly informed the president that “Dr. King is one of the most divisive men in contemporary history.” [6]
  • In a 1989 column he implored the GOP to “take a hard look” at former KKK leader David Duke’s “portfolio of winning issues.” [7]
  • Over the years, he has called gays and lesbians “sodomites” and said they are “literally hell-bent on Satanism and suicide”; called homosexuality a “disorder” that can be handled with therapy; and said that in a “healthy society, it will be contained, segregated, controlled, and stigmatized.”[8]

These are just a few among the many examples of Pat Buchanan’s bigotry.

Enough is enough. Tell MSNBC it’s time to sanction Buchanan.

You can help hold Pat Buchanan accountable by signing a letter to MSNBC’s management and by spreading the word about this action.

Your participation matters.

Thanks,

Matt Butler
President and CEO
Media Matters for America

Notes:

1: “Pat Buchanan Appears On “Pro-White” Radio Show Show.” Media Matters, 10/13/11

2: “Pat Buchanan Won’t Disavow Idea That Minorities Have Inferior Genes.” Media Matters, 10/21/11

3: “Pat Buchanan: Blacks Have Lost The American Identity They Had During Segregation.” Media Matters, 10/19/11

4: “Patrick Buchanan: Unrepentant Bigot.” Anti-Defamation League, 5/21/09

5: “MSNBC drops simulcast of Don Imus show.” MSNBC.com, 4/13/07

6: “Pat Buchanan in His Own Words.” Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, 2/26/96

7: “Pat Buchanan in His Own Words.” Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, 2/26/96

8: “Pat Buchanan’s History Of Anti-LGBT Bigotry.” Media Matters , 10/24/11

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Joe Heck is anti-union

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Featheriver

Joe Heck is anti-union

This is Heck’s view of unions. He doesn’t support working people. Get rid of Heck in the 2012 election. Unless, I suppose, you don’t like unions either.

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Obama helping homeowners under water

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Featheriver

ObamaJust finished watching President Barack Obama on television in Las Vegas announce the following information—AND stating since Congress isn’t providing relief he is going to do it alone. Congress is the problem. In the 2012 elect every voter should remove every Republican now in Congress and every DINO (Democrat in Name Only) Democrat in office. Time to act and retake our country back from the Republican Party and their “job creators.”

FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Announce HARP Changes to Reach More Borrowers

Washington, DC – The Federal Housing Finance Agency, with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises), today announced a series of changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) in an effort to attract more eligible borrowers who can benefit from refinancing their home mortgage. The program enhancements were developed at FHFA’s direction with input from lenders, mortgage insurers and other industry participants.

“We know that there are many homeowners who are eligible to refinance under HARP and those are the borrowers we want to reach,” said FHFA Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco. “Building on the industry’s experience with HARP over the last two years, we have identified several changes that will make the program accessible to more borrowers with mortgages owned or guaranteed by the Enterprises. Our goal in pursuing these changes is to create refinancing opportunities for these borrowers, while reducing risk for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and bringing a measure of stability to housing markets.”

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have helped approximately 9 million families refinance into a lower cost or more sustainable mortgage product, approximately 10 percent of those via HARP. HARP is unique in that it is the only refinance program that enables borrowers who owe more than their home is worth to take advantage of low interest rates and other refinancing benefits. This program will continue to be available to borrowers with loans sold to the Enterprises on or before May 31, 2009 with current loan-t0-value (LTV) ratios above 80 percent.

The new program enhancements address several other key aspects of HARP including:

  • Eliminating certain risk-based fees for borrowers who refinance into shorter-term mortgages and lowering fees for other borrowers;
  • Removing the current 125% LTV ceiling for fixed-rate mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac;
  • Waiving certain representations and warranties that lenders commit to in making loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac;
  • Eliminating the need for a new property appraisal where there is a reliable AVM (automated valuation model) estimate provided by the Enterprises; and
  • Extending the end date for HARP until Dec. 31, 2013 for loans originally sold to the Enterprises on or before May 31, 2009.

An important element of these changes is the encouragement, through elimination of certain risk-based fees, for borrowers to utilize HARP to refinance into shorter-term mortgages. Borrowers who owe more on their house than the house is worth will be able to reduce the balance owed much faster if they take advantage of today’s low interest rates by shortening the term of their mortgage.

The Enterprises plan to issue guidance with operational details about the HARP changes to mortgage lenders and servicers by November 15. Since industry participation in HARP is not mandatory, implementation schedules will vary as individual lenders, mortgage insurers and other market participants modify their processes.

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