The "Make Him Do It" Dynamic: Obama Reiterates Support for Bankruptcy Reform

by: David Sirota

Mon Feb 09, 2009 at 15:30


In my column a few weeks ago, I noted that the pressure from congressional Democrats had forced President Obama to commit to supporting major bankruptcy reforms that would allow judges to force banks to renegotiate their mortgages so that homeowners can avoid foreclosure. Now, Obama is out in Red America bragging about his commitment, as he should:

President Barak Obama said on Monday that he supported changing the rules to let judges modify first mortgages to prevent home foreclosures. Obama made his comments at a townhall meeting in Elkhart Indiana, as he campaigned for an $800 billion economic stimulus package being debated by lawmakers.

"If you are like most people, including me, and you've got one house ... it turns out that under current law you can't modify that mortgage if you are in bankruptcy," Obama told a townhall meeting as he campaigned for an $800 billion economic stimulus package being debated by lawmakers.

"That makes no sense ... that is forcing a lot of people into foreclosure," Obama said. "This is a piece of legislation that I strongly support."

This "cramdown" legislation is critically important. It should have been in the stimulus bill to begin with, but at minimum, it should be passed immediately after the stimulus bill passes. (h/t Atrios)

David Sirota :: The "Make Him Do It" Dynamic: Obama Reiterates Support for Bankruptcy Reform

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Good news. (4.00 / 1)
Promoting progressive solutions is a win/win for progressives, Obama, and America.

Who should we rely on to do this? (4.00 / 1)
I assume that this legislation would come out of the Senate banking committee, right? Then I presume we would ask the chairman of that committee to push this legislation forward. Who might that be? Right, Chris Dodd ($$-CT) -- the guy who gave George Bush $700 billion in bailout money with no strings attached.

Good luck with that.

Any other way to get this crammed through Congress?


It was also good to hear (0.00 / 0)
him say he was opposed to the Education cuts in the Senate bill and was hopeful some would be put back in during conference.  

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