Fix Housing First- the Latest Update on the Fight to Stabilize the Housing Market 1/23/2009 As many of my friends and colleagues know, I am an avid supporter of the Fix Housing First Plan. Just moments ago, I received the following message. I have posted a copy for you all to read plus a link to use so that you can find out more details about the plan and show your support by contacting your representatives in Congress. Falling housing prices are at the core of our current economic crisis. 
| 
| Fix Housing First: Final Push The House Ways & Means Committee marked up the stimulus bill yesterday. They did not include the Fix Housing First proposal in the final bill, but they eliminated the recapture of the existing $7500, which means it doesn’t have to be paid back. It applies to all houses purchased before 6/30/09. That’s a small step in the right direction but we have far to go. We are disappointed that they did not include the larger tax credit and the buy-down in interest rates in the bill because we feel that their plan is far too modest to spur significant demand for housing. The Senate Finance Committee will have their markup on Tuesday of next week. Together this week alone, you have sent almost 20,000 e-mails to the Senate. Please keep the pressure on, please weigh in again with your Senators by clicking here and urge your friends and colleagues to do the same. Special emphasis should be placed on the members of the Senate Finance Committee listed below, urge them to support any amendment to expand the tax credit: MAX BAUCUS, MT
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV
KENT CONRAD, ND
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM
JOHN F. KERRY, MA
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR
RON WYDEN, OR
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, NY
DEBBIE STABENOW, MI
MARIA CANTWELL, WA
BILL NELSON, FL
ROBERT MENENDEZ, NJ
THOMAS CARPER, DE CHUCK GRASSLEY, IA
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
JON KYL, AZ
JIM BUNNING, KY
MIKE CRAPO, ID
PAT ROBERTS, KS
JOHN ENSIGN, NV
MIKE ENZI, WY
JOHN CORNYN, TX Also important is the Senate leadership – Harry Reid of Nevada and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. |
| 2009 Economic Forum Held at Cumberland County College 1/14/2009 The 2009 Economic Forum was held on Tuesday, the 13th at the Cumberland County College in Southern New Jersey. There were five panelists representing local businesses including Edward Galetka, President of Colonial Bank, Mel Brody of Brody's Furniture, Joseph Savaro of the New Jerset Motor Sport Park, Serge Brunner of CEO of Espoma Co., and Kimberly Wood, Planning and Development Director for Cumberland County, NJ. The forum was hosted by Charles W. Nutt, Publisher and Editor of the Daily Journal. The panalists agree that the recession is a serious economic threat but believe that the Cumberland County area's economy has held up fairly well compared to other areas of the country. We have experienced positive growth over the past several years and the future should be bright as well. The area has seen the expansion of the Cumberland County College, construction of a state-of-the-arts hospital plus several medical facilties around the hospital area, a new local and private bank, Capitol Bank, construction of a multi-million dollar raceway facility, construction of several new retail outlets surrounding the Cumberland Mall plus the nearly completed super Wal-Mart on Landis Avenue in Vineland. The area has seen explosive growth over the past few years and although it may have slowed somewhat, the panelists seemed confident that a positive attitude and common sense business decisions would help carry Cumberland County throught the storm. Kimberly Wood said "The theme continues to be creativity, opportunity, collaboration, and community. These are the things that are going to continue to sustain us as a region here in Southern New Jersey."
|
