HUD Sec. Jackson ignored housing crisis, solicited ‘emergency bid’ for oil portrait of himself.»

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/13/jackson-ignored-housing-crisis-solicited-emergency-bid-for-oil-portrait-of-himself/

Jackson ignored housing crisis, solicited ‘emergency bid’ for oil portrait of himself.»


This week, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson will be leaving office under a cloud of ethics investigations. But less examined than his corruption was his inattention to the housing crisis. During Jackson’s tenure, “foreclosures for loans insured by HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) have risen and default rates have hit a record high.” The Washington Post reports:

In late 2006, as economists warned of an imminent housing market collapse, housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson repeatedly insisted that the mounting wave of mortgage failures was a short-term “correction.”

He pushed for legislation that would make it easier for federally backed lenders to make mortgage loans to risky borrowers who put less money down. He issued a rule that was criticized by law enforcement authorities because it could increase the difficulty of detecting and proving mortgage fraud. <…>

They contend that Jackson ignored warnings from within his agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, whose inspector general told Congress that some of the secretary’s efforts were “ill-advised policy” and likely to put more families at risk of losing their homes.

At the same time, Jackson “launched a new $7 million auditorium and cafeteria” at HUD’s headquarters and used taxpayer money to solicit an “emergency bid to obtain oil portraits of Jackson and four other HUD secretaries.” He also insisted upon a personal chef and security detail.

[spanone]

1. when will he be receiving the medal of freeddom???/

no sarcasm

[mwb970]

2. bush sure can pick 'em, can't he?

He's batting 1.000 so far!

[iamthebandfanman]

3. imagine that, a cronies in the administration

never woulda saw that coming ;)

[Flying Dream Blues]

4. This is infuriating! And worse, not at all surprising. Personal chef? nt

[babylonsister]

6. Yes, that was the 'icing on the cake'. nt

[gratuitous]

5. Priorities

Alphonso Jackson didn't become Secretary of HUD to worry about crap like housing and urban development. No, Alphonso Jackson fought and clawed his way to a cabinet position for the personal chef, the security detail, and of course that lovely oil painting.

This is why conservatives know deep in their hearts that government doesn't work. Would you expect something to work when the leadership is more interested in the perks of position than the actual administration of their office? Of course not. But keep electing Republicans, America, so they can demonstrate again just how little regard they have for government.

[Richard Steele]

7. Typical B*sh associate: too busy stealing to govern. nm

[Wilms]

8. What is Bush thinking when he appoints people??? Oh, never mind.

[nashville_brook]

9. he had no intention of administering HUD! his purpose was to 'drown it in the bathtub'

we've let the foxes into the hen houses for way too long. we're going to find some heinous carcasses as we sift thru the rubble.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

10. honestly

is anyone surprised by this?

[babylonsister]

11. Whoa! Olbermann just said this guy's qualifications were...

he was *'s old neighbor. :wow: