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Anyone waiting for a robust discussion of housing policy by the presidential candidates is unlikely to be satisfied. Not only did the issue never come up during the debates, but President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney haven't said much on the issue at all.
October 18 -
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romeny released a housing white paper Friday, calling for GSE reform and repeal of Dodd-Frank.
September 21
WASHINGTON — Daily Show comedian and anchor Jon Stewart has finally succeeded where others failed.
Following two presidential debates where the subject just did not come up, Stewart was able to get President Obama talking about the housing crisis during Thursday night's episode.
A comprehensive discussion about how to turn around the sagging mortgage market, which is still contending with millions of underwater borrowers, has been largely
"Right now we could make sure that families whose homes are underwater … if they refinance they typically get 3,000 bucks in their pockets a year. That's $3,000 they're spending or $3,000 that they're putting back into the equity of their home. The housing market would be helped, employment would be helped. Even Gov. Romney's own advisor says this is a good idea and yet Gov. Romney opposes it," Obama said.
But Obama sidestepped a follow-up question from Stewart, who asked whether it was true that the administration has only spent about $5 billion of the $50 billion set aside to spur mortgage modifications.
"Actually, what's happened is we've got 5 million homes that we have already seen foreclosures prevented on, and a settlement with the banks that provides another $25 billion to help the housing market," Obama responded.
"The central question is, there are a whole bunch of things we can do right now that will make the recovery even stronger, and put more folks back to work," he said.
