Skip to main content

HOPE NOW Alliance: Mortgage industry prevented record-high 225,000 foreclosures in October 2008

Nov 24, 2008

Obama announces economic team and Treasury extends Money Market Guarantee ProgramMortgagePress.comBarack Obama, Blank Rome LLP, U.S. Treasury, Money Market Guarantee Program What will it take to jolt the U.S. economy back into shape? Congressional leaders have floated ideas for an economic stimulus package ranging from $500 to $700 billion. President-Elect Barack Obama is not espousing numbers yet but has assembled his economic team and charged it with developing recommendations for restoring economic growth and creating 2.5 million jobs. While serious rumors about his economic advisors started circulating last week, Obama officially presented the group at a press conference held Monday, Nov. 24: • Treasury Secretary: Timothy F. Geithner, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and former long-time Treasury official • Director of the National Economic Council: Lawrence H. Summers, former Clinton Administration Treasury Secretary and Harvard economist • Director of the Council of Economic Advisors: Christina D. Romer, University of California at Berkeley economics professor • Director of the Domestic Policy Council: Melody C. Barnes, former counsel to Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and policy director of the Center for American Progress • Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council: Heather A. Higginbottom, former legislative director and presidential campaign advisor to Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) Obama broadly laid out his economic plan, noting there is consensus between conservative and liberal economists that the nation needs a big economic stimulus. Recognizing that Wall Street problems have Main Street consequences, Obama indicated his recovery plan will address both. His plan will: • Stabilize the financial system and get credit flowing; • Address the foreclosure crisis; • =Help the "struggling" auto industry; • Create and save 2.5 million jobs; • Rebuild infrastructure, including roads, bridges and schools; and • Create the clean energy infrastructure of the 21st century. Emphasizing continuity, Obama remarked, "These extraordinary stresses on our financial system require extraordinary policy responses. And my administration will honor the public commitments made by the current administration to address this crisis." One point of continuity Obama declined to address at this time is the issue of the Bush tax cuts, most of which are due to expire in 2010. There has been speculation that Obama would announce a policy of no tax increases, for anyone, until 2010 or perhaps even 2011. At todays press conference, Obama refused to go beyond his campaign pledge to provide a net tax cut to 95 percent of workers. He is counting on his new economic team to recommend how. For more information, visit www.BlankRome.com.
About the author
Published
Nov 24, 2008
Co-Founder Mat Grella Terminated From NEXA

NEXA CEO Kortas states negotiations regarding the buyout will continue.

Mar 27, 2024
Comings And Goings At AmeriHome

Chief Operating Officer John Hedlund announced his retirement on Thursday in a LinkedIn post.

Mar 22, 2024
Rocket's Tim Birkmeier To Retire

Birkmeier is bidding farewell after a 28-year career at Rocket Companies.

Mar 21, 2024
How NAR’s Settlement Impacts Homebuying

While the settlement's silver lining is that homes are expected to become more affordable, many uncertainties loom over the housing market.

Mar 19, 2024
NAR Reaches $418 Million Settlement

The association agreed to give home sellers the option of compensating agents.

Mar 15, 2024
U.S. Non-Bank Mortgage Lenders Surge Amid Industry Consolidation, Fitch Ratings Reports

As smaller players exit the market, scaled originators like UWM and PennyMac Financial dominate, but challenges persist with low origination volume and pressured margins amidst rising interest rates.

Mar 14, 2024