Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Democrats hit Bachmann on foreclosure vote

By Andy Birkey
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 9:30 am

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting Rep. Michele Bachmann following a vote to defund the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). Though the Democrats are targeting Bachmann, her Democratic colleagues, Reps. Tim Walz and Collin Peterson, joined the Republicans on the vote Thursday. Bachmann and Rep. Chip Cravaack both represent districts with a high rate of foreclosures.

The DCCC is hitting Bachmann because she voted against an amendment that would save a portion of the program for senior citizens whose mortgages are in negative equity or “underwater.”

“Rather than do anything to create jobs, Representative Michele Bachmann voted to force Minnesota seniors to face the tragedy of losing the home that they have worked their lifetime for,” Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said in a statement. “While cutting Foreclosure Assistance for the 90,206 Minnesota families, Representative Michele Bachmann wouldn’t even preserve it for the seniors who built our nation. Seniors deserve an opportunity to stay in the home they raised their family and not be driven out but Representative Michele Bachmann may have literally closed the door on the American dream.”

HousingLink's latest map of foreclosures in Minnesota. Click to enlarge.

The Washington Post notes that only $50 million has been spent from the $8 billion program. Applications are lower than anticipated: Dow Jones Newswire reports that 65 homeowners have utilized the program. HAMP was passed by the Democratic Congress in 2009 and signed into law by President Obama.

Republican Reps. Bachmann, Cravaack, John Kline and Erik Paulsen were joined by DFL Reps. Walz and Peterson in voting to eliminate the program. Reps. Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum voted against terminating the program.

While Reps. Bachmann and Cravaack voted to eliminate the program, both represent districts with high foreclosure rates. Bachmann’s district was the highest of Minnesota’s eight congressional districts in 2008 and 2009, and those number appear to be shifting to Cravaack’s district.

Eight of the top 10 counties by foreclosure rate according to HousingLink are in Bachmann’s and Cravaack’s districts. Two of the top 10 are in Kline’s district.

Sherburne County in Bachmann’s 6th Congressional District had the highest foreclosure rate with 2.93 foreclosures per residential parcel as well as Wright (2.18) and Anoka (2.08), which were 7th and 8th highest in foreclosures. Isanti (2.56), Mille Lacs (2.47), Kanabec (2.45), Chisago (2.32) and Pine (2.05) counties in Cravaack’s district were 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 9th highest. In Kline’s district Scott (2.23) and Rice (1.80) were 6th and 10th in foreclosure rate.

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Comments

19 Comments

Carl
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 9:51 am

Nothing says Jesus loves you like kicking the elderly out into the street.

Praise Jebus, God hates secular housing, Amen.


Michael Cavlan RN
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 9:58 am

Must be tough. Carrying water for the status quo. While pretending otherwise.

Will the Minnesota “Independent” consider doing an expose on who benefited from the foreclosure crisis?

George Soros and Goldmann Sachs. Guess who Goldmann Sachs contributed the most money to in 2008?

President Barack Obama. Along with a number of Democrats and Republicans.

Of course on the “other side” of the Kabuki Theatre is Dick Army and the Koch Brothers funding the Tea Baggers. Classic divide and conquer.

Quick, look, look. Michelle Bachmann. Carry on with the Kabuki Theatre, pseudo-democracy.

The best “democracy money can buy.

Egypt is not a river in Denial. However, people in Egypt have something.

It is called courage.

While I remain to be convinced that Americans have the courage to face and resist the corporate regime here.


John in 6th district
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 10:33 am

Why am I not surprised at this news? Two words: Michele Bachmann


Understanding Government » Blog Archive » Michelle Bachmann might be right
Pingback posted March 11, 2011 @ 11:19 am

[...] Democrats are going after her vote to defund TARP’s Home Affordable Modification Program, reports Andy Birkey of the Minnesota Independent. But Bachmann is doing nothing different than her [...]


Paul Schmelzer
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 11:22 am

Michael: I’ve gotta hand it to you, you’ve shown great commitment to the belief that demeaning others into doing things your way is an effective strategy. I tend to disagree and fail to see how you’ll ever have electoral (or personal) success if you choose insults over ideas and inspiration.


Kevin
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 11:30 am

Democrats have to get tough and go after Bachmann every time she burps in public. Enough of the nice stuff, enough of the “lets be reasonable”, enough of the “let’s sit down and talk”. That strategy has failed miserably and we’re paying the price now.

It’s WAR baby and it’s time to expose people like Bachmann for who they really are!!


Dave
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 12:27 pm

Is is nice to say democrats have to get tough, but when they don’t get it on the local media, the people who voted for Bachmann don’t get a chance to re-evaluate their choice.


LadyKofOlmsted
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 2:11 pm

I am deeply troubled as to why Tim Walz voted along with Bachmann on this. I will talk to him about that.


ray
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 2:47 pm

DONT BLAME ME I DIDN’T VOTE FOR BACHMAN
her district is loaded with hard working people who bought a house .

thrue mostly no fault of their own and greedy mortgage company’s

unscrupulous loan officers ,falsifying documents
,home builders who bought the get rich quick scheme in realestate for 19,95
and never paid there sub contractor

developers who were first secured party’s took so many houses back ,then resold

representative’s who have voted such lousy lein laws into law that they are not the paper there written on

i have been screaming for the hamp program officeS to be located in each county seat ,so it can be implemented

the government does not lose on it, in fact it makes money by taking the loan over and allowing the family to stay in their house

strategically poorly designed to take away houses , all it needed to be is a simple refinance ,as so many lending commercials say it is

we were told our who live the best investment was our homes ,,not true

sherburne county the heart of bachmans district has the highest foreclosure rate

and she did nothing in fact she rubbed salt into the wounds Of so many good people
she ought to be so ashamed f herself and then to blame obama
she is a fool , WHEN IT STARTED IN 2004

we lost the housing base now the small mom and pop shops are closing ,and bachmans is thinking of running for president ,is she kidding

i could go on and on but i wont
the housing could have been solved if the republicans would have gotten behind it
thats when i became a full fledged democrat and a bachman hater
i did qualify for the hamp program , my veteran buddy who was in Afghanistan didn’t
over 500 documents ,100 phone calls ,ovver 150 faxes and probably 400 hours to qualify
by the time i was done i knew more about it then the professionals i was talking too

a great idea the funding was there but people like bachman *&%$# it all up
i am a sixth district resident who watched a good industry go in the toilet because of people like bachMAN
and what kills me the most is all the subcontractors who never got paid for work they did still supported bachmans even thow they knew she was the cause
we even went to her to help us support a change in the lein laws
SHE TURNED HER BACK ON US
on this issue i am so pissed because it was so simple to fix

dennis you idiot i wouldn’t even post on this one


ray
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 3:00 pm

i pray that wikki leaks guy dumps the banking documents
don’t you think its kinda funny you don’t hear about him any more
the banks quieted him,

if the public found out he real truth on the banking system
how they ripped off the average person there would be riots on every corner

and dont blame sub prime lending blame long contracts and greedy lenders
they knew the houses were coming back , when they wrote the loan
i know all this because i was right in the middle and then developed a councious
watch its a wonderful life same senerio

i will come down with great vengeance and furious anger and you will know my name is the lord , 25/17 same thing different time ms bachman


EricF
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 4:17 pm

I hate to say the Republicans have a point, but HAMP hasn’t worked. I hate seeing it just ended instead of substantially changed, because something like it is needed. The problems are refusing to allow “cramdown”, where bankruptcy judges could rework a mortgage is the lender and owner couldn’t settle, and making it voluntary on the part of lenders. They badly don’t want to write down principle or reduce interest, and with the program being voluntary, they prefer to just “lose” the homeowner’s paperwork over and over.

On a side note, Michael, regarding your statement, “While I remain to be convinced that Americans have the courage to face and resist the corporate regime here.” I urge you to copy and paste the following word into your favorite search engine’s keyword box: Madison.


ray
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 6:01 pm

ERIC HAMP ISN’T WORKING BECAUSE THEY DON’T ALLOW IT TO WORK ,
THEY PILED IT WITH NEEDLESS PAPER WORK , INTERNAL FIGHTING AND JUST SAY NO

ITS A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS , BUT YOU REPEAT IT 20 TIMES WITH PAPER WORK ECT, TRY AND GET A RETURN PHONE CALL FROM FANNIE MAE
I SAT AND READ ALL ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM WORKED FOR TWO SOLID DAYS AND WAS TELLING THE PROFESSIONALS, HOW IT WORKED ,
ONE SAID I SHOULD BE WORKING FOR THEM
BUT LIKE I SAID I MADE IT THROUGH IT AND SAVED MY HOUSE

ONE PERSON I TALKED TO ASKED ME IF I HAD A PET AND ASKED FOR AN ESTIMATE ON HOW MUCH THE PET COST PER YEAR TO FEED

HOW MANY POLITICIANS FRIENDS AND RELATIVES QUALIFIED AND WERE STREAMLINED

DONT QUOTE ME
BUT IF THE BANK CANT PRODUCE YOUR ORIGINAL PAPER WORK THEY CANNOT FORECLOSE ON YOUR HOUSE
AND KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEVICER OF THE LOAN AND OWNER OF THE DEED ,USSALLY FREDDIE MAC AND FANNIE MAY
AND KEEP A RECORD OF WHO YOU TALK TO
ASK FIRST WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO WITH THERE ID NUMBER

WHEN THEY DID THE HAMP WALKIN PROGRAM IN BOSTON IT WORKED GREAT AND TOOK LESS THAN TWO DAYS TO FINALIZE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT PROGRAM SHOULD HAVE BEEN NATION WIDE , CITY TO CITY
JUST LIKE DISASTER AREAS
IT WAS A SIMPLE PROGRAM AND THE SERVICERS CREATED IT TO BE A MESS
ON PURPOSE ,
AND THEN THE “WE WILL LOWER YOUR LOAN THIEVES”

AND THEN NO SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE LIKE BACHMAN
THE GREATEST CON IN HISTORY

NOW
WATCH YOU WILL SEE IS THE STUDENT LOAN PROGAM
AND YOU HEAR SUZY OREMAN TALK SMACK ABOUT IT ,
ANOTHER HUGE CON GAME PROPELLED BY LOBBYIST AND THE BANKING INDUSTRY

I LIVE IN SHERBURNE COUNTY IT WAS A GREAT COUNTY TILL BACHMAN GOT A HOLD OF IT ,SHE AND REP MARY KIPPMEYER RAN IT INTO THE GROUND

IT MAKES ME SO MAD BECAUSE AT ONE TIME I SUPPORTED AND VOTED FOR THEM BOTH

I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME HEAVY HITTERS WEIGH IN ON THIS AND TELL THE TRUTH , THE REAL TRUTH


ray
Comment posted March 11, 2011 @ 6:20 pm

I ALSO GOT TO SAY I WAS NEVER LATE ON A PAYMENT EVER
I JUST DIDNT GET PAYED BY TWO CELL PHONE CONTRACTORS WITH CALCULATORS IN BOTH HANDS , AND I BOUGHT THIS HOUSE FOR 5 DOLLARS AND PUT 5 DOLLARS INTO IT AND NOW I AM A MILLIONARE PROGRAM

ADVICE TO ALL SUB CONTRACTORS
DO NOT EVER LET YOUR BILL GO OVER 7500 DOLLARS WITH ANY ONE BUILDER EVEN IF THEY HAVE TO WRITE YOU A CHECK EVERY DAY
SO YOU KEEP IT IN SMALL CLAIMS ,
DISTRICT COURT COST YOU MORE THAN MOST JOBS ARE WORTH

A JUDGE WILL NOT WANT TO HEAR A CASE UNDER 50 K AND SEND YOU TO ADR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

AND A LAWYER WILL NOT BURN A BRIDGE WITH AN APPOSING LAWYER IN CONSTRUCTION LAW ,BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FEW THAT SPECIALIZE IN IT, UNLESS YOU PAY BIG BUCKS
25K OR MORE TRUST ME I LEARNED THE HARD WAY


Bob
Comment posted March 12, 2011 @ 4:32 pm

Good for her.

Why are we spending billions of dollars to prevent people from becoming, God forbid, renters? Since when is being in mortgage debt an entitlement by the gov’t?

Everyone I know in foreclosure did it to themselves. Irresponsible people who bought more house than they can afford.

And you know what’s even more ironic? During the housing bubble, home prices got out of reach for working people. And now that foreclosures have made housing more affordable for millions of working people, the Democrats want to stop that. Hypocrites.


ray
Comment posted March 13, 2011 @ 6:22 pm

BOB YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR UNDERSTAND IT AND DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT

I SAW SO MANY HOUSES CLOSE THAT WERE UNSCRUPULOUS, TOTALLY ILLEGAL,
I EVEN SEEN HOUSES CLOSE BEFORE THE WHOLE WAS DUG ,ALMOST EVERY HOUSE I WORKED ON HAD FRAUD BEHIND IT
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THERE WERE SO MANY INFOMERCIALS ABOUT YOU CAN GET RICH IN REAL ESTATE AND SO MANY BOUGHT INTO IT .
EVERYONE WAS A REAL ESTATE AGENT
SO BOB GO BUY SOME HOUSES
BECAUSE YOU COULD BE WEARING DIAMONDS AS BIG AS PIGS KNUCKLES

THE WALL STREET BANKERS NEW EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPENED AND PULLED IN INVESTORS TO THE BIGGEST CON GAME IN HISTORY
I WATCHED IT BOB UNFOLD LIKE SO MANY SUB CONTRACTORS WHO LOST THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE OF THIS
BOB GO TO WORK FOR TWO YEARS AND DON’T GET PAID
YOU WOULD BE WINING THE FIRST WEEK YOUR CHECK WASN’T THERE

BACHMAN ALLOWED AN INDUSTRY TO GO DOWN AND COULD HAVE STOPPED IT IN ITS TRACKS .. BUT WAS TRYING TO PROVE A POINT THAT SHE WAS BETTER THAN THE DEMOCRATS

WELL BOB WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR WHEN THE WORLD DOESN’T USE THE AMERICAN DOLLAR AS ITS MAJOR FORM OF CURRENCY EXCHANGE
ALL BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING CRISIS
I DON’T MEAN TO OFFEND YOU BOB BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT
LEIN LAWS BOB LEIN LAWS AND ARMS NEEDED TO BE REDONE
WITH OUT PEOPLE LOSING THERE HOUSE IN FACT THEY COULD HAVE JUST TURNED THEM INTO FIXED RATES AT THE RATE THEY BOUGHT HOUSE AT
AND THAT WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEMS

EVERY SITUATION WAS AS UNIQUE AS THE PERSON BEING RIPPED OFF
AND WHY IS BACHMANS DISTRICT SO BAD

ONE MORE POINT BOB SHOULD A PERSON WHO WORKS ON YOUR HOUSE DESERVE A FAIR WAGE,
WHAT IS A FIAR WAGE BOB ON A HOUSE FOR A WORKER WHO WOULD WORK ON YOUR HOUSE AS AN INTERDEPENDENT LABORER OR CONTRACTOR TO MAKE A LIVING 20 , 30 ,40, 50 , 60 , 70 , 0R 80 DOLLARS AN HOUR
AFTER ALL SAID AND DONE TELL ME BOB
DONT FORGET TO ADD IN THE INSURANCE TAXES ,ACCOUNTING AND ALL THE OTHER FEES NEEDED TO RUN A TINY 2 OR 3 MAN COMPANY
AND SEE WHAT YOUR BOTTOM LINE IS
IF YOU CHOOSE 70 OR LESS PER MAN HOUR IF NOT
, GO HIRE LITTLE BILLY DOWN THE STREET BOB BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE COMP ON HIM OR YOUR ILEGAL TOO

BOB I RAN A LEGAL BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS , AMONGST ALL THE ILLEGAL BUSINESSES SO YOUR GENERAL STATEMENT JUST PLAIN SUCKS

NOT TRYING TO BE HARD ON YOU BOB I AM JUST STATING THE FACTS SORRY IF T SEEMS LIKE I TOOK IT OUT ON YOU,
BUT BACHMAN CLAIMS TO BE A TAX ATTORNEY WELL SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER INSTEAD OF WATCHING HER DISTRICT GO INTO RUINS SHAME ON HER

BECAUSE HER DISTRICT IS LOADED WITH SMALL SELF EMPLOYED PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY JUST TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AND SNEAKING OFF ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO GO FISHING ONCE IN A WHILE

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HER BOOKS ON HOW SHE RUNS HER FAMILY BOSSINESS WITH OUT ALL HER TAX LOOP HOLES AND FARM SUBSIDY’S

JUST TRYING TO GET THRUE THE PEARLY GATES BOB GOD BLESS


ray
Comment posted March 13, 2011 @ 8:27 pm

BOB DO ME A FAVOR BEFORE YOU HIRE YOUR NEXT PERSON TO WORK ON YOUR HOUSE

1 CHECK WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT THEY ARE A LEGAL BUSINESS

2 ASK FOR UP TO DATE PUBLIC LIABILITY PAPERS INCLUDING WORK COMP CERTIFICATE AND IF ANY OTHERS ON THE JOB ARE SUB CONTRACTORS ,GET THERE INSURANCE PAPERS INCLUDING WORK COMP

3MAKE SURE YOU GET PRE LEIN NOTICES FROM ALL SUBS WHO WILL BE WORKING ON THE JOB , AND MAKE SURE THEY GET PAID ITS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND ITS THE LAW
3,5 GET LEIN WAIVERS FROM ALL SUBS

4 CALL YOUR INSURANCE MAN TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED BY INCIDENTAL FIRE ECT [MY CONTRACT STATES IF YOUR HOUSE BURNS DOWN YOUR INSURANCE COVERS IT
5 MAKE SURE HE CARRY’S A BOND TO FINISH THE WORK

6 AND MOST IMPORTANT DO NOT PAY UP FRONT COST 1/4 DOWN WHEN WORK BEGINS , 1/4 WHEN ROUGH IN IS COMPLETE ,THE REST PAYABLE WHEN THE PROJECT IS DONE COMPLETE INCLUDING TOUCH UP AND ALL ODDS AND ENDS ARE FINISHED INCLUDING CLEAN UP ECT.

7 NO WORK CHANGE ORDERS UNLESS THEY ARE WRITTEN UP AS WORK CHANGES ,GET A SECOND OPION ON CHANGE ORDERS FOR COST

OR YOU BECOME THE PROBLEM IN THE INDUSTRY
LOW PRICES MEAN ILLEGAL BUSINESSES , CHEAP HELP MEANS SHOTTY WORK
HELP THE LEGAL BOSSINESS HELP YOU , AND REPORT THE ILLEGAL BUSINESS TO THE SEC OF STATE

BOB I HAD A HOME OWNER WHO PAID THE CONTRACTOR IN FULL AND I NEVER GOT PAID FROM THE CONTRACTOR , SO THE HOMEOWNER HAD TO PAY ME AND THEN GO TO SMALL CLAIMS TO GET THE REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE CONTRACTOR
BUT YOU SEE BOB YOU WONT BECAUSE YOU WILL LOOK AT THE PRICE AND TAKE YOUR CHANCES , BUT YOU WILL BE ILLEGAL THEN RESPONSIBLE

THIS IS WHAT I DID FOR A JOB BOB
IS FIX THE MESS OF A SHOTTY CONTRACTOR FOR HOME OWNERS WHO DID NOT PREPARE FOR THE JOBS


MN Representatives Vote Against Amendment to Save HAMP Program for Seniors «
Pingback posted March 14, 2011 @ 6:58 pm

[...] a comment According to the Minnesota Independent (thank you Andy Birkey!) several US Representatives from MN including Republican Reps. Michele [...]


ray
Comment posted March 15, 2011 @ 8:45 am

IT SEEMS BY ALL THE POST I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO CARES IF A HOMEOWNER
LOSES THEIR HOUSE PRIDE OF PRIVATE OWNERSHIP RULED THIS COUNTRY

THAT LAST SENTENCE WAS THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS BUT ORIGINALLY WAS THE PURSUIT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP ,BUT WAS CHANGED IN THE LAST DAYS
CHECK YOUR HISTORY 3 PEOPLE WOULD NOT SIGN BECAUSE OF THIS
PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP WAS AND IS THE KEY TO AMERICAN SUCCESS

I WISH I COULD TELL A PERSON WHAT TO DO IF THERE HOUSE WAS FORECLOSED ON
BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY MICHELLE BACHMAN THE OLD ADAGE
POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK
WELL MS BACHMAN THE TRAIN IS RUNNING ON THE SAME OLD TRACK

HAMP IS A PROGRAM DOOMED TO FAIL BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO
NOT BECAUSE IT WASN’T A GOOD PROGRAM ,TO HELP PEOPLE
WIKKI LEAKS NEEDS TO EXPOSE THE CORRUPTION BEHIND IT


ray
Comment posted March 30, 2011 @ 4:00 pm

well isee no one will rebute what i say

so bachman has no compation towards people who did nothing wrong and lost their house

i am a simple person in home building and i take this moment to debate bachman at any time any place to a no hold bards debate
she wont take it because she doesnt understand the pain of people who lost thir houses
bachman test me i know you already have


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