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Tweaking Welfare Wastes

Mike

Well-known member
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The Alabama House of Representatives has given final passage to a bill aimed at stopping people from using welfare benefit cards at liquor stores, bars, tattoo parlors, psychic networks and strip clubs.

Representatives approved the bill Wednesday on an 80-22 vote. It now goes to Gov. Robert Bentley for his signature.

The federal government is requiring all states to have laws or regulations banning the use of electronic welfare benefit cards at liquor stores, casinos and bars.

The bill goes beyond that and expands the type of businesses that would be prohibited from taking the benefit cards.

Supporting legislators said welfare benefits should not be used at businesses that have nothing to do with maintaining a family during tough times. Opposed lawmakers questioned the need of the legislation.

Representatives also voted 70-30 for a bill that would require welfare applicants to put in three job applications when they sign up for benefits. The bill now returns to the Alabama Senate for senators to consider House changes to the bill.
 

Steve

Well-known member
Census data from 2010 shows that 59 percent of Pennsylvania households, headed by an illegal resident, receive welfare, the fifth-highest percentage of any state.

Read More at: http://local21news.com/news/features/waste-local/stories/legal-loophole-allows-illegal-immigrant-collect-welfare-90.shtml

This does happen in other states. In fact, it happens in every state. Federal law dictates that County Assistance Offices are “non-reporting” agencies. Meaning that if a known illegal immigrant walks into a government welfare building, they are not reported to authorities. "You can get fired for that,” the whistleblower said in reference to reporting illegal immigrants. “That is what they tell you." “We don’t need welfare workers and county agencies becoming immigration agents. That’s not their job,”
sure wish the federal government would work together to enforce their laws..
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Steve said:
Census data from 2010 shows that 59 percent of Pennsylvania households, headed by an illegal resident, receive welfare, the fifth-highest percentage of any state.

Read More at: http://local21news.com/news/features/waste-local/stories/legal-loophole-allows-illegal-immigrant-collect-welfare-90.shtml

This does happen in other states. In fact, it happens in every state. Federal law dictates that County Assistance Offices are “non-reporting” agencies. Meaning that if a known illegal immigrant walks into a government welfare building, they are not reported to authorities. "You can get fired for that,” the whistleblower said in reference to reporting illegal immigrants. “That is what they tell you." “We don’t need welfare workers and county agencies becoming immigration agents. That’s not their job,”
sure wish the federal government would work together to enforce their laws..

Kind of reminds me of when Bush told the Federal regulators to quit checking/asking home loan applicants if they were legal or not... One of the reasons the burst housing bubble and the Bush Bust hurt the states with the biggest latino/illegal populations...
 

hopalong

Well-known member
Give us a link where Bush actually told them that
:roll: :roll: :roll:\

or is that like your 8 yr coffee break that never existed :D :D :D
 

Mike

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Steve said:
Census data from 2010 shows that 59 percent of Pennsylvania households, headed by an illegal resident, receive welfare, the fifth-highest percentage of any state.

Read More at: http://local21news.com/news/features/waste-local/stories/legal-loophole-allows-illegal-immigrant-collect-welfare-90.shtml

This does happen in other states. In fact, it happens in every state. Federal law dictates that County Assistance Offices are “non-reporting” agencies. Meaning that if a known illegal immigrant walks into a government welfare building, they are not reported to authorities. "You can get fired for that,” the whistleblower said in reference to reporting illegal immigrants. “That is what they tell you." “We don’t need welfare workers and county agencies becoming immigration agents. That’s not their job,”
sure wish the federal government would work together to enforce their laws..

Kind of reminds me of when Bush told the Federal regulators to quit checking/asking home loan applicants if they were legal or not... One of the reasons the burst housing bubble and the Bush Bust hurt the states with the biggest latino/illegal populations...
:disagree:
Between 2001 and 2008 the Bush Administration called for reforms to government-sponsored enterprises created by the United States Congress (GSEs, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) some seventeen times as cited below.

2001 April: The Administration's FY02 budget declares that the size of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is "a potential problem," because "financial trouble of a large GSE could cause strong repercussions in financial markets, affecting Federally insured entities and economic activity." (2002 Budget Analytic Perspectives, pg. 142)

2002 May: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) calls for the disclosure and corporate governance principles contained in the President's 10-point plan for corporate responsibility to apply to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (OMB Prompt Letter to OFHEO, 5/29/02)

2003 February: The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) releases a report explaining that unexpected problems at a GSE could immediately spread into financial sectors beyond the housing market.

September: Then-Treasury Secretary John Snow testifies before the House Financial Services Committee to recommend that Congress enact "legislation to create a new Federal agency to regulate and supervise the financial activities of our housing-related government sponsored enterprises" and set prudent and appropriate minimum capital adequacy requirements.

September: Then-House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Barney Frank (D-MA) strongly disagrees with the Administration's assessment, saying "these two entities – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – are not facing any kind of financial crisis … The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing." (Stephen Labaton, "New Agency Proposed To Oversee Freddie Mac And Fannie Mae," The New York Times, 9/11/03) October: Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE) refuses to acknowledge any necessity for GSE reforms, saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." (Sen. Carper, Hearing of Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, 10/16/03)

November: Then-Council of the Economic Advisers (CEA) Chairman Greg Mankiw explains that any "legislation to reform GSE regulation should empower the new regulator with sufficient strength and credibility to reduce systemic risk." To reduce the potential for systemic instability, the regulator would have "broad authority to set both risk-based and minimum capital standards" and "receivership powers necessary to wind down the affairs of a troubled GSE." (N. Gregory Mankiw, Remarks At The Conference Of State Bank Supervisors State Banking Summit And Leadership, 11/6/03)

2004 February: The President's FY05 Budget again highlights the risk posed by the explosive growth of the GSEs and their low levels of required capital and calls for creation of a new, world-class regulator: "The Administration has determined that the safety and soundness regulators of the housing GSEs lack sufficient power and stature to meet their responsibilities, and therefore … should be replaced with a new strengthened regulator." (2005 Budget Analytic Perspectives, pg. 83)

February: Then-CEA Chairman Mankiw cautions Congress to "not take [the financial market's] strength for granted." Again, the call from the Administration was to reduce this risk by "ensuring that the housing GSEs are overseen by an effective regulator." (N. Gregory Mankiw, Op-Ed, "Keeping Fannie And Freddie's House In Order," Financial Times, 2/24/04)

April: Rep. Frank ignores the warnings, accusing the Administration of creating an "artificial issue." At a speech to the Mortgage Bankers Association conference, Rep. Frank said "people tend to pay their mortgages. I don't think we are in any remote danger here. This focus on receivership, I think, is intended to create fears that aren't there." ("Frank: GSE Failure A Phony Issue," American Banker, 4/21/04)

June: Then-Treasury Deputy Secretary Samuel Bodman spotlights the risk posed by the GSEs and calls for reform, saying "We do not have a world-class system of supervision of the housing government sponsored enterprises (GSEs), even though the importance of the housing financial system that the GSEs serve demands the best in supervision to ensure the long-term vitality of that system. Therefore, the Administration has called for a new, first class, regulatory supervisor for the three housing GSEs: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banking System." (Samuel Bodman, House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Testimony, 6/16/04)

2005 April: Then-Secretary Snow repeats his call for GSE reform, saying "Events that have transpired since I testified before this Committee in 2003 reinforce concerns over the systemic risks posed by the GSEs and further highlight the need for real GSE reform to ensure that our housing finance system remains a strong and vibrant source of funding for expanding homeownership opportunities in America … Half-measures will only exacerbate the risks to our financial system." (Secretary John W. Snow, "Testimony Before The U.S. House Financial Services Committee," 4/13/05) July: Then-Minority Leader Harry Reid rejects legislation reforming GSEs, "while I favor improving oversight by our federal housing regulators to ensure safety and soundness, we cannot pass legislation that could limit Americans from owning homes and potentially harm our economy in the process." ("Dems Rip New Fannie Mae Regulatory Measure," United Press International, 7/28/05)

NOTE: following dissatisfaction with Iraq War, and Bush Administration's 2006 legislative defeats regarding Social Security Reform, the 2006 US midterm elections held on Tuesday Nov 07, 2006, resulted in a sweeping victory for Democratic Party which captured both House of Representatives (233–202 advantage, Speaker, Nancy Pelosi), and effective eight-seat loss in the Senate (51-49, Harry Reid Majority Leader, with independents Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman, both caucused with Democrats, plus eventually on Nov 9th, James Webb/VA, and John Tester/MT following protracted vote recounts), in addition to a majority of governorships (28-22) & state legislatures.

2007 August: President Bush emphatically calls on Congress to pass a reform package for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, saying "first things first when it comes to those two institutions. Congress needs to get them reformed, get them streamlined, get them focused, and then I will consider other options." (President George W. Bush, Press Conference, the White House, 8/9/07)

August: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Chairman Christopher Dodd ignores the President's warnings and calls on him to "immediately reconsider his ill-advised" position. (Eric Dash, "Fannie Mae's Offer To Help Ease Credit Squeeze Is Rejected, As Critics Complain Of Opportunism," The New York Times, 8/11/07)

December: President Bush again warns Congress of the need to pass legislation reforming GSEs, saying "These institutions provide liquidity in the mortgage market that benefits millions of homeowners, and it is vital they operate safely and operate soundly. So I've called on Congress to pass legislation that strengthens independent regulation of the GSEs – and ensures they focus on their important housing mission. The GSE reform bill passed by the House earlier this year is a good start. But the Senate has not acted. And the United States Senate needs to pass this legislation soon." (President George W. Bush, Discusses Housing, the White House, 12/6/07)

2008 February: Assistant Treasury Secretary David Nason reiterates the urgency of reforms, saying "A new regulatory structure for the housing GSEs is essential if these entities are to continue to perform their public mission successfully." (David Nason, Testimony On Reforming GSE Regulation, Senate Committee On Banking, Housing And Urban Affairs, 2/7/08)

March: President Bush calls on Congress to take action and "move forward with reforms on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They need to continue to modernize the FHA, as well as allow State housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to homeowners to refinance their mortgages." (President George W. Bush, Remarks To The Economic Club Of New York, New York, NY, 3/14/08)

April: President Bush urges Congress to pass the much needed legislation and "modernize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. [There are] constructive things Congress can do that will encourage the housing market to correct quickly by … helping people stay in their homes." (President George W. Bush, Meeting With Cabinet, the White House, 4/14/08)

May: President Bush issues several pleas to Congress to pass legislation reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before the situation deteriorates further. "Americans are concerned about making their mortgage payments and keeping their homes. Yet Congress has failed to pass legislation I have repeatedly requested to modernize the Federal Housing Administration that will help more families stay in their homes, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure they focus on their housing mission, and allow state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to refinance sub-prime loans." (President George W. Bush, Radio Address, 5/3/08) "[T]he government ought to be helping credit worthy people stay in their homes. And one way we can do that – and Congress is making progress on this – is the reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That reform will come with a strong, independent regulator." (President George W. Bush, Meeting With The Secretary Of The Treasury, the White House, 5/19/08) "Congress needs to pass legislation to modernize the Federal Housing Administration, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure they focus on their housing mission, and allow State housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to refinance subprime loans." (President George W. Bush, Radio Address, 5/31/08)

June: As foreclosure rates continued to rise in the first quarter, the President once again asks Congress to take the necessary measures to address this challenge, saying "we need to pass legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac." (President George W. Bush, Remarks At Swearing In Ceremony For Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development, Washington, D.C., 6/6/08)

July: Congress heeds the President's call for action and passes reform legislation for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as it becomes clear that the institutions are failing.

September: Democrats in Congress forget their previous objections to GSE reforms, as Senator Dodd questions "why weren't we doing more, why did we wait almost a year before there were any significant steps taken to try to deal with this problem? … I have a lot of questions about where was the administration over the last eight years." (Dawn Kopecki, "Fannie Mae, Freddie 'House Of Cards' Prompts Takeover," Bloomberg, 9/9/08) (Ref: http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081009-10.html
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Looks to me like when something is said rather off-hand and then
proof is posted that the comment was not correct, that the original poster would finally give it up.

Doesn't happen.

Geez!
 

Mike

Well-known member
Faster horses said:
Looks to me like when something is said rather off-hand and then
proof is posted that the comment was not correct, that the original poster would finally give it up.

Doesn't happen.

Geez!

It's not just a lie, it's a DAMN LIE. When the 2001 Patriot Act passed with 98 Senators & 357 Congressmen (very bipartisan), which Bush signed, it authorized Banks to allow the Consular Metricular Visa numbers and Tax ID numbers to be used for illegals to open bank accounts. No Social Security #'s were needed. In fact, they, the banks, KNEW they were illegals when no SS# was given.

Banks got greedy and allowed their use for mortgages also (mostly the subprimes). Bush had no independent authority to overrule Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. They were Gov't Sponsored Entities with oversight by Congress + Barney Frank!!!!

Remember when Greenspan told the mortgage bankers to "Get Creative"? They did just that.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Despite Illegal Status, Buyers Get Home Loans

LA Times | August 9, 2005
By Anna Gorman

Each week, Pedro Morlet knocks on doors in the Bay Area, looking for illegal immigrants.

Morlet isn't an immigration agent. He's a real estate agent, and he's scouting for business.

"Do you want a house, work and pay taxes but don't have a Social Security number?" reads his flier, written in Spanish and tailored to his potential customers. "We can help you LEGALLY!"

Across the country, particularly in Texas and parts of the Midwest, hundreds of illegal immigrants have bought homes using special lending programs that bypass the need for a Social Security number. Now, with backing from some of the country's largest financial institutions, this newest effort to tap customers for the real estate market is moving to the nation's largest concentration of illegal immigrants — California.

As buyers begin to queue up, real estate is becoming the latest arena to highlight the often-bizarre contradictions of American immigration policy.

Advocates of tighter controls on immigration oppose the idea of illegal residents buying homes here. Lending money to illegal immigrants encourages others to cross the border, they say.

"They have no right to own property in the United States because they have no right to be here in the first place," said Diana Hull, president of Californians for Population Stabilization.

Legally, that's not quite true. Unlike some countries — Mexico, for example — the United States generally does not restrict foreign citizens from buying real estate.

But for years, because qualifying for a mortgage required a Social Security number, the only way for an illegal immigrant to do so was by using a false number. In addition, such immigrants often were rejected or overlooked by legitimate lenders, leaving them vulnerable to fraud.

Lenders have a powerful incentive to find ways to get around those barriers: tens of thousands of potential customers. The National Assn. of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals estimates that more than 216,000 undocumented immigrants, including many who have been in the country for decades, could buy homes if they had better access to the market.

Despite their undocumented status, many prospective buyers earn steady incomes, face little risk of deportation and are desperate to become homeowners. Their purchases would amount to millions of dollars in mortgages.

"You have gainfully employed people who have been stuffing money in the mattress for a long time," said Mary Mancera, spokeswoman for the association. "There are quite a few who have been working and saving money and raising kids and going about their lives and want to achieve that next step, but haven't been able to because of the barriers."

Silvia Avalos, a hairstylist, and her husband, Jose Luis Avalos, a busboy, are among the people Mancera is talking about. They were tired of spending their money on rent each month but didn't want to use fake Social Security numbers to buy a home.

After friends told them they could buy legally, they found a two-bedroom condo northeast of San Francisco for $280,000. They moved in as soon as escrow closed.

"We saw it as an investment," Silvia Avalos said. "While you are here, you have somewhere to live that is yours. And if you return home [to Mexico], you can sell it."

Another prospective buyer, Aaron Sanchez, was pre-approved for a $200,000 loan after taking a class sponsored by ACORN, an advocacy group for the poor, on how to make offers and apply for mortgages. The 32-year-old illegal immigrant from Oaxaca, Mexico, has worked at the same furniture company in the San Gabriel Valley for 14 years. He wants each of his two children to have a room. It is a luxury, he knows, that will be hard to afford.

"I think I can find a house," Sanchez said, "but a small house."

The opportunity to get people like the Avalos and Sanchez families into the market begins with the IRS, which is happy to collect peoples' taxes, regardless of their immigration status.

Nearly a decade ago, the IRS began giving out Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers so people without Social Security numbers could pay taxes. Since then, more than 8 million applicants have received numbers, and about 2 million are used annually on tax returns.

The IRS knows illegal immigrants are using the numbers to get mortgages.

"We don't have control over whatever the taxpayers do with the numbers other than filing a tax return," spokeswoman Irma Treviño said.

In addition to the ID numbers, immigrants must show that they have been in the country, worked and paid taxes for at least two years in order to get mortgages. Because many do not have credit scores, they must prove their good credit through such documents as utility and cellphone bills, rent receipts, bank statements and paychecks. The interest rates and loan costs are in line with those of buyers who have Social Security numbers.

So far, the trend has begun slowly in California: Only about 50 houses and condominiums have closed escrow.

One obstacle is the same as that facing any buyer in the state — high costs.

Many illegal immigrants cannot make the down payments or prove they earn enough to pay a mortgage in the state's pricey markets. Those who have been able to find affordable homes have bought in places such as Bakersfield.

"It hasn't been as successful as we expected it to be," said Felix Harris, Los Angeles program manager of ACORN. "The prices keep escalating."

Another factor is the lenders' low profile. Citibank, for example, has been offering loans to illegal immigrants in California under a pilot program since September. But it has not advertised widely and wouldn't discuss details with a reporter. It has relied largely on ACORN and individual immigrants and real estate agents to get out the word.

"Citibank is the largest financial institution in the world," said Gary Acosta, a co-founder of the Latino real estate group. "They are interested in the business opportunity. They think it is the right thing to do. But they are probably not interested in getting involved in the public debate that's taking place right now."

Acosta said that also, the bank probably wants to test the loans before advertising and opening the floodgates.

The lenders' reticence means some real estate agents don't know that the loans are available. Victor Campos, a real estate agent in San Fernando, said he often turns away illegal immigrants.

"As far as we know, if they don't have papers, the lenders won't even touch them."

Some banks are reluctant to take the risks involved in the illegal-immigrant market. "If someone were to get deported, what happens?" said Cynthia Mendoza, an account executive with Bank of America. "It's a loss to the bank."

In addition, large underwriters such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac aren't buying the loans, so the banks must keep them. A spokesman for Fannie Mae said the company recently reviewed its policies at the request of several lenders but decided not to make any changes, citing "complex and evolving" U.S. immigration laws.

But other financial institutions say the risk is worth taking.

They are being urged on by one of the nation's chief banking regulators, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Eager to guard against predatory lending practices, the FDIC is encouraging banks to reach out to the Latino population — both documented and undocumented. The loans based on tax identification numbers are one way to do that.

FDIC officials predict that despite the slow start, the loans will take off in California, with its huge illegal-immigrant population.

"It happened in Chicago," said FDIC spokeswoman Linda Ortega. "And it will happen in Los Angeles."


One bank that has gotten into the market is Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati. "We recognized it as a business opportunity," said Bill Schumer, a vice president of marketing at the bank. "It's appealing to a market that is growing dramatically."

Fifth Third Bank started issuing the loans in November after hiring bilingual loan officers. The bank is reaching out to customers through churches and community organizations.

One of those customers, Gerardo Vega, bought a three-bedroom home in Indianapolis.

"I feel like I deserve to have a house because I do what everybody else does," said Vega, an illegal immigrant who installs drywall for a living. "I pay my taxes."

In Northern California, real estate agent Morlet has helped four undocumented immigrants buy homes legally. Morlet, a U.S. citizen originally from Mexico City, said he understands his clients' desire to own property in the United States and to buy it through legitimate lenders.

"I live in an area where a lot of people get [defrauded] by people who don't have any scruples," he said.

Now that loans are available, Morlet faces the challenge of finding homes his customers can afford. When he comes across a deal, he must work hard to beat other bidders. The mortgages take much longer than average and require several more steps.

But his clients, Morlet said, are willing to wait.


Anyone that wasn't kissing the rear of a cult saw that one of the big factors leading to the Bush Bust was the ease the banks had at handing out loans...No longer required to check on ID, legal status or credit rating- and not being required to keep any skin in the game...

I've posted the time period before highlighting when GW dropped many of the requirements- trying to and bypassing even Clinton in putting low income (illegals ) into homes....
One of the reasons such states as California, Colorado, and Florida, took the biggest hits when the bubble broke- all the illegals quit paying on their loans and skipped out on their mortgages... Many weren't even under their real names...
And one of the reasons some of the Republican Congressmen almost flipped out when they found out in the hearings that bank regulators were no longer requiring loaning agencies to check for authenticity of ID, credit, or immigration status...
 

Mike

Well-known member
If the FDIC is all you have to prove that "Regulators" dropped the loan requirements, then you have nothing.

The FDIC is an independent Gov't agency that derives no funds from Congress. They charge the banks fees for their existence.


The main Bank Regulator is the FED, which a totally independently owned entity!

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac are in control of mortgage requirements, and as I showed you Bush started out wanting to reform them and kept it up because of lax rules in mortgages. Thus came Barney Frank.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Mike said:
If the FDIC is all you have to prove that "Regulators" dropped the loan requirements, then you have nothing.

The FDIC is an independent Gov't agency that derives no funds from Congress. They charge the banks fees for their existence.

Yep with the majority of the Board and the Chairman appointed by the President of the US..
You think they are going to go against the Presidents wishes :???:
 

Mike

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Mike said:
If the FDIC is all you have to prove that "Regulators" dropped the loan requirements, then you have nothing.

The FDIC is an independent Gov't agency that derives no funds from Congress. They charge the banks fees for their existence.

Yep with the majority of the Board and the Chairman appointed by the President of the US..
You think they are going to go against the Presidents wishes :???:

The President can't "Wish" what goes on an application, you idiot. Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae sets those standards because they were the ones backing the loans.........................

Look again above at how many times Bush wanted to strengthen and tighten Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae Rules from 2001 to 2008.


http://www.freddiemac.com/uniform/unifurla.html
 

ranch hand

Well-known member
regulators were no longer requiring loaning agencies to check for authenticity of ID, credit, or immigration status...
This sounds like your hero Barry on voting, immigration, Obama care, welfare and food stamps, and etc. Oh and he wants to get rid of the ID part. :mad:
 

Tam

Well-known member
Yep Bush Bust to bad that d*mn internet was invented and we can look back and pull up the facts Oldtimer. :wink:

Dare to tell us what Community Organizer sued Citibank to force them to make mortgages where the people HAD NO SKIN IN THE GAME ?
 
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