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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
E-Update
Legislative Update -- March 15, 2012
Dear Neighbors,
The home foreclosure crisis continues to be a serious issue that is affecting Minnesota communities. I want to tell you a little about a proposal that has been introduced at the State Legislature aimed at addressing the continuing (and likely to grow in 2012) foreclosure problem in Minnesota. The Supporting Responsible Homeowners and Stabilizing Neighborhood Act includes the following provisions:
Supporting Responsible Homeowners
• Expand refinancing options for responsible homeowners who are current on their mortgages, but face barriers, such as being “underwater," which prevents them from taking advantage of historically low interest rates.
• Prevent needless foreclosures by providing a 12-month stay of foreclosure proceedings for unemployed homeowners who have lived in their home for ten years.
• Increase transparency for homeowners applying for loan modifications by requiring banks to provide clear and straightforward eligibility criteria, and protect homeowners against unnecessary foreclosure, including right of appeal.
• Make “dual tracking” illegal so that banks are not allowed to foreclose on a house while a loan modification is pending.
Holding Banks Accountable
• Require banks to notify homeowners of each and every loan modification option available to them so that no one is needlessly foreclosed upon when another solution available.
• Prohibits lenders and brokers from charging fees for services not performed.
In February, the Minnesota Attorney General announced that the state will share in the national mortgage settlement that involves the five largest national mortgage lenders: Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and GMAC/Ally Financial. Minnesota borrowers will be eligible for up to $280 million under the settlement, including monetary relief, refinancing benefits, and principal reductions.
We know that in order to achieve prosperity, it’s important to have firm stable roots. The more we can provide for affordable housing and promote initiatives such as the Supporting Responsible Homeowners and Stabilizing Neighborhoods Act, the better chance our community has to thrive.
To learn more, call the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office at 651-296-3353 or 1-800-657-3787 or the Minnesota Department of Commerce at 651-296-2488 or 1-800-657-3602, or visit www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com.
VETERANS SURVIVOR GRANT PROGRAM
I recently introduced a bill establishing a Veterans Survivor Grant Program. A surviving spouse is eligible for assistance through this grant program if the spouse was married to a veteran who died prior to completing the forms required to provide for ongoing survivor benefits.
A spouse shouldn’t be denied assistance just because paperwork wasn’t filled out. Our military men and women — and their families — go through so much to protect this nation and the freedoms that we take for granted every day. They should receive any help and assistance we can provide, whenever they need it and regardless of paperwork technicalities.
I’m proud to be joined on this bill by a bipartisan list of co-authors, many of them veterans. I’m hopeful that we can move this bill forward before the end of session.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS WEEK
March 12 – 18 has been designated “MS Awareness Week” to raise visibility about multiple sclerosis. On Thursday, March 15, 50 to 75 MS activists and volunteers will spend the day at the State Capitol visiting their legislators. They will end with a rally in the Capitol Rotunda at 11:00, where they will present Governor Mark Dayton with the National MS Society’s 2011 Governor of the Year Award.
According to the MS Society, “Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with the disease. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the United States and more than 2.1 million worldwide.”
By casting a spotlight on MS this week, it is hoped that we can raise awareness and understanding about this unpredictable, life-altering disease. This is an opportunity for people affected by MS to connect with others and share knowledge about the disease. Significant strides in MS research and treatment over the past 20 years have turned MS from an untreatable disease into one where a patient has at least eight treatment options.
Hopefully with increased focus on MS we are that much closer to finding a cure. I look forward to visiting this week with those who are interested in MS.
I hope you have a happy Saint Patrick’s Day. Be sure to celebrate safely and I look forward to seeing you all this weekend. As the legislative session moves along, please contact me with your input, questions and concerns. Thank you again for the honor of serving you in the legislature.
Respectfully,
Representative John Ward
District 12A
828-3626
News Items
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- Assistant Majority Leader Rep. John Ward Sworn-In as Legislative Session Starts - (Posted: Jan 8 2013 2:39PM)
- Rep. John Ward Elected Assistant Majority Leader and Selected to Serve as Vice Chair of Capital Investment Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-19 00:00:00)
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