Our Foreclosure Moratorium bill is stopped because of Rep. Joe Atkins

[annm4peace]

People's Bailout needs our help. This group of people has been working hard for all of us and has gotten the bill further along than any other group could. They have taken days off of work to sit in hearings and to meet with representatives.. and now this jerk Rep Atkins is holding up the bill.
This Bill will help.. it will force Lenders to act more in good faith and sincerely try to work with borrowers.



Our Foreclosure Moratorium bill is stopped up in the House of Representatives committee process, because of Rep. Joe Atkins, the chair of the Commerce and Labor Committee. Our bill was referred to his committee, but he refuses to give it a hearing.

So, call Rep. Joe Atkins (and his assistants) and tell him to give our bill (HF2604) a hearing!
Rep. Atkins: 651-296-4192
Rep. Atkins' legislative assistant Christopher Kwapick: 651-296-6586
Rep. Atkins' Committee Administrator: John Reich: 651-296-7175

Here is what you could say:
"I want Rep. Atkins to hear House File 2604 in his Commerce and Labor Committee. This is the bill that puts a moratorium on home foreclosures. We know Rep. Atkins is hearing from the banking lobbyists all the time. He has to have a hearing on this bill to find out where the people stand. If he doesn't grant a hearing on HF2604, then he is standing with the banks against homeowners and our communities."

If no one answers, leave a message, but be sure to include your name and phone number. Rep. Atkins is from Inver Grove Heights. Here is more info:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?district=39B
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Talking points on our bill:
A vote for the bill to put a Moratorium on Foreclosures and stop foreclosure-related evictions is a vote to keep Minnesotans in their homes.
A vote against HF2604/SF2242 is a vote to support the rich greedy banks, many who received billions and are doing nothing to support Minnesotans in this time of economic crisis.

What this bill does: For Homeowners: The bill puts a two-year moratorium on foreclosures. The intention is for the bill to affect only owner-occupied properties. Homeowners are required to pay either their current payment or 41% of their income during the moratorium. For Renters: The bill lets renters stay in their homes, paying a fair market rent (ie, their current rent) to the forecloser.

Some common-sense reasons to pass this bill in 2010:
Save our homes.
Many banks are stonewalling as people try to make adjustments to their mortgages. The programs we hear about that are supposed to help people help only a small fraction; these programs need major reform at the federal level. We need something to make these banks come to the table and truly negotiate in good faith. Until the feds (or the state) can make those changes, we need a moratorium so people and banks have time to get together to work out a deal that benefits everyone. Note that this bill is not a “free ride.” Homeowners have to pay up to 41% of their income to the banks as both parties work to come together for a new arrangement.

Protect innocent renters.
Renters need the option of keeping their existing tenancy in effect. Despite current laws, many renters don’t even know their landlords are getting foreclosed on; they have been paying rent, assuming it was going to the mortgage. There are also cases where “landlords” take the security deposit and disappear! Let renters stay in their homes, paying a fair market rent to the forecloser. This bill still allows renters to be evicted only "for cause," like not paying the rent or damaging the property.

Save our neighborhoods.
When houses (or apartments) go empty, everyone suffers. Housing values go down and there are health and safety issues. Empty houses turn into trashed houses. Lower property values mean less money for local governments. Stable neighborhoods are safer, healthier neighborhoods. Keep people housed, keep properties maintained, and even keep some money going to the lender.

Don’t make the state budget deficit worse:
Because of the current economic crisis, home stability is more important than ever. Homeless families cost cities, counties and the state money. This is not just about homeowners losing their homes -- there is a trend of the unemployed taking refuge in the homes of friends and family, for the short or long-term. The bottom line is empty houses mean more money needed for city services, health care, social services…there are countless costs (both financial and social) that arise from foreclosure.

MN Coalition for a People’s Bailout - 612-822-8020 - www.mn-peoples-bailout.org