The article pertains to a bipartisan forclosure rescue bill that has lots of support and was moving well until Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. attempted to add a $6 billion package of tax breaks for renewable energy producers.

The article also mentioned other reason for the delay…

The stalemate contributed to a pre-vacation Senate traffic jam of high-profile legislation awaiting completion, including the broad housing  package, a terrorist surveillance bill, and bills to fund the Iraq war and avert Medicare cuts.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he was determined to complete the housing measure – which also includes long-awaited overhauls of the Federal Housing Administration and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored mortgage giants – but that it will have to wait until next month, after lawmakers return for a weeklong July 4th break.

Thoughts on the Matter

Honestly, what was Sen John Ensign, R-Nev thinking? Environmental issues and looking for ways to increase / promote renewable and sustainable energy (see our Green Blog for more on  Green Energy) are very important but this item has no business being piggy-backed with a foreclosure rescue bill.

It’s kind of ridiculous. Our politicians need to keep focus on the real issues at hand and think about whats best for the people right now, before they push their own personal agendas. Now because of this hold-up those folks who are close to losing their homes in foreclosure, are sweating it out and left waiting until talks resume in a week after the July 4^th holiday.