Oregon is about to suffer the most blatant example of bought and paid for government I have seen in a long time. It will take extraordinary action to block this affront to democracy. There is not much time left.
Legislators are currently in a short, 30-day session that takes place in even years. There were several bills introduced in both houses designed to give struggling homeowner some leverage against aggressive bank foreclosures. The Senate moved first, passing 2 important bills.
SB 1552, based on pre-foreclosure mediation programs that have proved successful in 21 other states. It would mandate banks to enter into mediation with homeowners in an attempt to prevent foreclosure. It passed 26-4.
SB 1564, which would prevent banks from negotiating a mortgage modification while simultaneously pursuing foreclosure, passed 20 - 10.
But look what happened when Rep Whizz-nut, R-Bank of America, got his hands on it.
Both Senate bills were directed to the House General Government and Consumer Protection Committee. Rep Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver) is chairman. Sunriver is a resort community about 20 miles south of Bend on the eastern slopes of the cascade mountains.
At first the good representative simply blocked any action at all. A committee chair can do that, and without a vote in the committee, the bills die. Then he proposed amendments to the bills, making them a banker's picnic. His amendments
- removed mandatory mediation
- eliminated the prohibition against negotiating while simultaneously proceeding with foreclosure
- legalized all the "MERS" transactions, which are currently illegal under Oregon law, and
- removed the power of the Attorney General to pursue action against banks based on
consumer protection.
The amendments will never pass, so the bills will die in committee. That is, they will die unless there is a revolt in the house.
On January 31, the day before the session started, Rep. Whisnant took a $1000 contribution from banks - Bank of America and the Oregon Banker's PAC. It is the only contribution Bank of America made to any Oregon legislator. At that point, everyone knew what bills were going to be introduced. A quick payment to Rep Whisnant, and the banks have their way. This is blatant corruption.
Even the often right-wing Oregonian is flummoxed, with two editorials in the last week:
Why Not Help People Keep Their Homes and Dying for help on the house
There is only one way to stop this: put unbelievable pressure on the Oregon House to suspend the rules and fix this miscarriage of democracy. Every representative in the house needs to be inundated with phone calls and letters. The entire house should rise up in revolt. We cannot stand for this.
One lone paid-off representative from central Oregon should not be able to single-handedly halt legislation that would sail through without his interference. I'm not sure why the Sheriff doesn't come up and arrest the guy for taking bribes. But then, that's just me.
Stop Rep Whisnant (R- Bank of America).
Call Rep Whisnant at 503-986-1453 and demand that he explain why he hates Oregon homeowners.
Call the co-speaker of the house, Rep. Arnie Roblan, at 503-986-1300, and tell him to not let one rogue, corrupt representative stand in the way of democracy.