Senators Should Support Prevention Of More Repo Homes

Senators should think of the welfare of the majority of their constituents when they vote on the bankruptcy reform that would help Americans save their houses from becoming repo homes. As millions of American homeowners are distressed by business closures, job losses, illnesses and thoughts of repo homes, several legislators in the Senate are campaigning against one of the key tools for the success of President Obama's foreclosure prevention program.

While some Republicans have opposed the continuous attack against the proposal to empower bankruptcy judges to order loan modifications for American homeowners in bankruptcy, one Democrat, North Carolina Senator Larry Kissell, has decided to leave his constituents in their difficulties and ally himself with the mortgage industry. He has taken a stand, campaigning for the welfare of the mortgage banks against the welfare of ordinary American homeowners who voted for him.

In North Carolina, over 46,000 housing units are expected to become repo homes this year because of the continued rise in the jobless rate, continued depression of home prices and the continued worsening of the economic downturn. Perhaps Kissell can not see the fact that the banking and mortgage industry has already received billions of taxpayers' money despite largely causing the high number of repo homes across the country. Perhaps Kissell want to throw all the bailout billions into the lap of the bankers and not share anything to his ordinary constituents who just want to keep their dwellings from being turned into repo homes.

In contrast, North Carolina Representative Brad Miller took a stand for his constituents. He fulfilled his campaign promise of helping them by approving the bankruptcy proposal, the original version of which has been helping American owners of vacation homes, manufactured homes and other personal properties such as boats.

Housing advocates, especially those in North Carolina, are hoping that the powerful mortgage industry is not able to pull another North Carolina Democratic Senator to its side. Senator Kay Hagan is reportedly being wooed by the banking industry to follow her fellow North Carolinian lawmaker and vote against the bankruptcy reform.

According to Hagan's office, the senator has not yet decided whether to ally herself with Larry Kissell and the banking industry or with Brad Miller and the millions of American homeowners. Kissell only has to imagine single mothers and young children being forced out of repo homes to decide the right thing.