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Mortgage Crisis Sparks GOP Defections

Lawmakers back Dem bills as constituents lose homes

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 19, 2008 7:47 PM CST

(Newser) – GOP lawmakers are breaking ranks over the housing crisis as they see constituents suffering foreclosures, Politico reports. Ohio Rep. Steve Chabot, the owner of a 97.5% lifetime American Conservative Union rating, recently snubbed party leaders and the White House by co-writing a bill to let bankruptcy judges re-write mortgages. Chabot sees foreclose blight "every day" in his district, one lobbyist said.

Other GOP deserters have pushed for jobless benefits in the stimulus package. Another 64 recently jumped ship to back a bill that blocks tax lending. GOP Texas lawmaker Lamar Smith put it this way: “It’s OK for Republicans to do what they need to for their districts. There’s no hard feelings.” But Chabot said some GOP leaders "aggressively" opposed his siding with the Democrats.

Republican Ohio Rep. Steve Chabot recently defied party leaders and the White House by co-writing a bill to let bankruptcy judges re-write mortgages. (Getty Images)

Rep. Michael Turneris one of the GOP lawmakers who have crossed party lines to support foreclosure relief for stressed constituents. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook) (Associated Press)

Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, is seen in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007. Last week, Turner protested upon learning of the removal of the word "God" from a certificate... (Associated Press)

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., left, and Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas take part in a full committee markup, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 25, 2007, for a... (Associated Press)

Texas Rep. Lamar Smith is one of the GOP lawmakers who've crossed party lines to support Democratice foreclosure relief measures to aid desperate constituents. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke) (Associated Press)

Republican Ohio Rep. Steve Chabot recently defied party leaders and the White House by co-writing a bill to let bankruptcy judges re-write mortgages. (KRT Photos)

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Mortgage Crisis Sparks GOP Defections

Lawmakers back Dem bills as constituents lose homes

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