Obama: Time to turn the page on housing woes

[August 10, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says the housing market is healing, but it's time to turn the page on the "bubble-and-bust mentality" that led to the market's collapse.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama calls on Congress to let all Americans refinance at current low rates. He wants more help for first-time homebuyers and expanded affordable rental housing. He's proposing to phase out mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac so private capital can play a bigger role in mortgages.

At the same time, Obama says the U.S. must preserve access to popular 30-year mortgages.

In the Republican address, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina says Obama's energy policies have failed. He says Republicans want government to get out of the way, including by approving the Keystone XL pipeline.

___

Online:

Obama address:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/

GOP address:
http://www.youtube.com/gopweeklyaddress

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.