Houston to consider taxpayer-funded debt relief

HOUSTON — The City Council will consider a proposal to use taxpayer money for paying down debt of first-time homebuyers trying to qualify for a mortgage through Houston’s assistance program.

The “Credit Score Enhancement Program” would give up to $3,000 for individuals to use on car loans, credit card balances or other debts. City officials believe the debt reduction could provide the slight boost in credit scores some applicants need in a tighter credit market.

The $444,000 for the program would come from leftover money in the city’s $1.5 million appropriation for emergency home and roof repairs from Hurricane Ike, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday.

Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck said the program was well-intentioned but went too far.

“If this credit crisis has taught us anything, we need to focus on paying off our debts and saving more,” she said. “Using government money to help someone pay off debts is not the same as asking them to pay off their debts themselves.”

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Bag of Randomness

  • When I arrived home I started to unload CarGeeding from items I purchased at Costco, and then all of a sudden there was a delivery dude at the door that brought in this box:
  • Turns out my Texas Stadium seats were in the box:

    The dogs and I rejoiced, and then cried when we realized that Jerry is still the GM.  But at least we will always have our seats.
  • The seats even came complete with Texas Stadium dust all over them.
  • It’s a bad habbit, but I never use the shift key on the right side of the keyboard.  It just doesn’t feel natural.  I somehow have mastered the art of only using the shift key on the left side of the keyboard.
  • Ooops
  • A bunch of Texas boys started a website called Bank of Obama where you can send you friends fake bailout checks.
  • They Baylor womens basketball team got one heck of a basketball player.  She’s more man than Shaq.
  • Someone at the Associated Baptist Press thinks Jesus may have been a racist.  Op-Ed
  • I just couldn’t let a fish swim in my mouth.
  • The farewell email from a coworker is always an interesting read.  The LA Times has an article about farewell emails of those that were recently laid off – some are funny, some are full of anger, and some are just professional.  I wasn’t laid off from Fidelity, but I didn’t send a farewell email now that I think about it.  But I was only in that department for about seven months.  And when I left the department I worked in for about four years, I didn’t send one out because if it was going to be positive then I would be lying.  But I did try to leave on good terms, I bought breakfast for everyone.
  • The BBC has a one-armed host on a children’s show, but the parents say she’s scaring the kids.
  • State of the Union addresses (even though last night wasn’t an ‘official’ State of the Union) are always interesting, especially the part where Congress decides to sit and stand.  I wonder when that first started.
  • Gov Bobby Jindal’s response I thought was appropriate and I guess pretty typical, but there was something about his speech pattern that got my attention.  I think it kind of went up and down, if that makes sense.
  • Black president, female Speaker of the House, Asian-Indian Gov from the Deep South with the opposing party’s response . . . it’s a quite interesting time we live in.
  • Grace
Posted in Personal | 2 Comments