Bloomberg reported yesterday that U.S. based bank Capital One will purchase UK-based HSBC’s U.S. credit card arm for a reported... View Article
Continue readingHAMP helps few homeowners, but program continues
The current tumult in the nation’s economy—high unemployment, large federal deficits, a downgrade in the U.S. credit rating and the resultant gyrations of stock prices—stem from the collapse of the housing bubble in 2007 and 2008 and subsequent meltdown of financial markets. While government programs enacted as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 propped up banks, brokerages and other firms—including auto manufacturers General Motors and Chrysler—the principal program to help homeowners has not fared nearly as well.
In 2009, the Department of Treasury launched the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP, to help ease the financial woes of three to four million Americans by adjusting mortgage rates to make their homes more affordable. The program provides an incentive to banks, giving them a predetermined amount for every modification completed. One of the goals of HAMP is to keep homes from being foreclosed upon, protecting local real estate markets from the declining prices that vacant, unsold homes can have on entire neighborhoods.
Official SuperCommittee Meetings Must be Public
Over the last week, the push for an open “supercommittee” has grown into a national issue. The issue has become... View Article
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 8/10/2011
Here is Wednesday’s look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News... View Article
Continue readingSuper Committee Transparency Updates
TPM has an important summary of the growing push for a transparent Joint Committee (aka the “SuperCommittee” aka the “SuperCongress”),... View Article
Continue readingCalling on Super Citizens to Brainstorm Opening Super Congress
It’s time to think big: The Super Congress situation is developing at an incredibly fast rate and we want to... View Article
Continue readingQuigley and Renacci Call for Open SuperCommittee
Movement is building for a transparent “Super Committee”. (As the #supercongress or Joint Select Committee on Debt Reduction is also... View Article
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 8/9/2011
Here is Tuesday’s look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News... View Article
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 8/8/2011
Here is Monday’s look at the week’s transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related... View Article
Continue readingAfternoon links
Super Congress=Super Lobbying Opportunity: National Journal lists all the ways in which DC lobbyists will attempt to exert influence on... View Article
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