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Cmte Financial Services (R)
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FHFA Director Delivers Lump of Coal to Every Taxpayer

Washington, Dec 11 -

Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) today issued the following statement concerning Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt’s decision to begin payments from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund:

“In taking this action, Director Watt is making a grave mistake that harms hardworking taxpayers and violates both the letter and spirit of the law. Today’s announcement was clearly timed for the end of the congressional session in a transparent effort to evade scrutiny and frustrate congressional oversight. That will not happen because the Financial Services Committee will call Director Watt to testify as soon as the next session of Congress begins in early January. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were at the epicenter of the 2008 financial crisis that threw millions of Americans out of work and destroyed trillions of dollars of household wealth. The nearly $200 billion bailout of Fannie and Freddie is still the biggest, costliest taxpayer-funded bailout in history, and contrary to what some claim, they have yet to ‘repay’ taxpayers one thin dime. Diverting assets to housing trust funds instead of repaying taxpayers or stabilizing Fannie and Freddie’s finances only makes matters worse. Director Watt’s decision to activate the Fannie and Freddie slush fund may be an early Christmas present for Acorn-like, liberal housing activists, but it’s a lump of coal in the stocking of every American taxpayer.”

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