Blunt: Democrats Push Flawed Housing Legislation, Block Republican Attempts to Protect...

Blunt: Democrats Push Flawed Housing Legislation, Block Republican Attempts to
Protect Taxpayers

WASHINGTON, July 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Republican Whip Roy Blunt
today released the following statement in opposition to the House Democrats
plans to force through their housing bill, blocking attempts by Republicans to
improve the legislation:

"You'd think a bill that reaches this far, this fast, this aggressively
would've been put together with a degree of due diligence that looks out for
the short- and long-term interests of the American taxpayer. But you'd be
wrong.

"To be clear, I would have supported legislation to shore up our housing
market and help struggling homeowners, but this is not the bill. House
Democrats have refused to hold the necessary hearings before diving head-first
into a billion dollar legislative package. Had this package been fully
examined in an appropriate matter, it would have become very clear that the
bill levies new taxes on the very same organizations it seeks to bail out,
creating a fund to finance political groups, and gives banks an incentive to
foreclose on properties.

"I believe rewarding, encouraging and reinforcing risky investments should
not be the role of the government - and certainly shouldn't be financed by
taxpayers. Given the opportunity, House Republicans have authored
constructive legislation - pending in committee - that attempts to solve the
problem at hand by protecting the taxpayers first, and ensuring we don't end
up in the same predicament in the future."

NOTE: Appearing on National Review Online today is a column on the housing
bill penned by Congressman Blunt.

SOURCE House Republican Whip Roy Blunt

Nick Simpson, Antonia Ferrier, or Chris Tucker, +1-202-226-7022, all of the
Office of the Republican Whip