Boehner: Economic Growth Vital To Solving Housing Crisis

During a press conference Tuesday, House Speaker John Boehner said that improving the economy is the only sure fire way to solve the housing crisis. (0:10)

Listen

HUD Secretary: Gov't Should Help Buyers Stay Informed

Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Shaun Donovan, explained the need for a housing and transportation affordability index, allowing consumers to make more informed choices when purchasing a house, thus leading to an active and productive marketplace. (0:29)

Listen

Did the Treasury consult with the SEC on resolution regime?

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee met for the second time to discuss “Enhancing Investor Protection and the Regulation of Securities Markets.”
At the hearing Senator Dodd asked the Chairman of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary Schapiro, “Were you consulted by the Treasury and the Fed, what role do you think the SEC should play in this resolution mechanism, given the oversight and regulatory responsibilities?” Senator Dodd also asked Ms. Schapiro to “comment on the reports of the regulatory changes that Secretary Geithner has mentioned this morning.”


Listen

Schumer: "Something's out of wack with Executive compensation"

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee met for the second time to discuss “Enhancing Investor Protection and the Regulation of Securities Markets.”
At the hearing, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, “We all believe people should be rewarded for good performance, that’s not the problem, but what we’ve seen in many instances that has enraged Americans is a heads-eye wind tail you lose system. In which executives are rewarded for flashing the pan short term gains, or even worse, rewarded richly when the company does poorly and the shareholders have been hammered.”
Listen

Housing costs vary depending on area

Shaun Donovan, commissioner of the City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development, says that housing costs vary from area to area in response to a question as to whether there was a flat rate for housing. Housing in areas like New York or San Francisco are considerably higher than areas where costs of labor and materials are lower. (0:46)
Listen

Mixed income housing works

At a hearing on "Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection of Tenants" Shaun Donovan, commissioner of the City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development, says that too much public funding is being wasted on hiring lawyers and consultants just to ensure programs work. Donovan says that, in New York City, mixed income housing is successful and vouchers should be used more creatively and effectively. (1:12)
Listen

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities holds conference call to compare the House and Senate housing relief tax packages

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities held a conference call to compare the House and Senate housing relief tax packages. Aviva Aron-Dine, Barbara Sard, and Robert Greenstein, executive director of CBPP spoke during the briefing. (47:32)
Listen

Make interest rates more attractive, says Congressman Roskam

In response to my question about what the government’s specific role should be in regards to the housing market, Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) says he thinks the role should be continuing to make interest rates more attractive but that takes a period of time to move the marketplace, but that’s not something that happens overnight. (0:22)
Listen

Conference Call: Center for American Progress Action Fund Discusses Main Points of McCain Speech

The Center for American Progress Action Fund hosts a phone call discussing the main points behind McCain's substance-free housing speech. (12:05)
Listen

Dr. Orszag Outlines Economic Options for Senate Finance Committee

At a hearing today, Dr. Peter Orszag of the Congressional Budget Office testified regarding potential courses the Congress may pursue in dealing with the current economic crisis. Here he outlines the pros and cons of several solutions.
Listen