RESOLUTION
To National Black Caucus
of State Legislators
State Rep. Juanita Walton (D) of St. Louis, representing the 81st District in Missouri's House of Representatives, filed this resolution with the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, which will meet in Arkansas in December. Representative Walton is also president of the National Order of Women Legislators, and past president of the National Foundation of Women Legislators.
Resolution to Congress—Implement the Homeowners and Bank Protection Act of 2007
Whereas, the onrushing financial crisis engulfing home mortgages, debt instruments of all types, and the banking system of the United States, threatens to set off an economic depression worse than the 1930s; and
Whereas, millions of American citizens are threatened with foreclosure and loss of their homes over the upcoming months, according to studies released by Realty Trac and Moody's Economy.com; and
Whereas, this financial crisis is now threatening the integrity of both state and federally chartered banks, as typified by the run on deposits of Countrywide Financial in California during the month of August; and such a banking collapse would wipe out the life savings of American citizens, and drastically undermine the economic stability of our states and cities; and
Whereas, in a similar financial crisis in the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt intervened to protect banks and homeowners; for example in April 1933, he introduced legislation as a "declaration of national policy ... that the broad interests of the Nation require that special safeguards should be thrown around home ownership as a guarantee of social and economic stability ... ," and therefore,
Be it Resolved, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators hereby endorses the Homeowners and Bank Protection Act of 2007, as initiated by economist Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr. This crisis is such that it requires emergency action that only the United States Congress has the capability to enact. Congress must move quickly to keep people in their homes and avert social chaos. This act includes the following provisions:
- Congress must establish a Federal agency to place the Federal and state chartered banks under protection, freezing all existing home mortgages for a period of however many months or years are required to adjust the values to fair prices, and restructure existing mortgages at appropriate interest rates. Further, this action would also write off all of the speculative debt obligations of mortgage-backed securities, derivatives, and other forms of Ponzi Schemes that have brought the banking system to the point of bankruptcy.
- During the transitional period, all foreclosures shall be frozen, allowing American families to retain their homes. Monthly payments, the equivalent of rental payments, shall be made to designated banks, which can use the funds as collateral for normal lending practices, thus recapitalizing the banking systems. These affordable monthly payments will be factored into new mortgages, reflecting the deflating of the housing bubble, and the establishment of appropriate property valuations, and reduced fixed mortgage interest rates. This shakeout will take several years to achieve. In the interim period, no homeowner shall be evicted from his or her property, and the Federal and state chartered banks shall be protected, so they can resume their traditional functions, serving local communities, and facilitating credit for investment in productive industries, agriculture, infrastructure, etc.
- State governors shall assume the administrative responsibilities for implementing the program, including the "rental" assessments to designated banks, with the Federal government providing the necessary credits and guarantees to assure the successful transition.
And therefore,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE 31ST ANNUAL LESIGLATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS, ASSEMBLED IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, DECEMBER 12-DECEMBER 16, 2007,
that the NBCSL urges the Congress of the United States to make all foreclosures frozen, allowing American families to retain their homes.
