National briefs: 2/5/12
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WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is asking Americans to press Congress to pass his new homeowner-relief plan that includes a tax on financial companies that Republicans have already rejected.
Mr. Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday that the housing crisis has been "the biggest drag on our recovery from the recession."
He said his proposal, outlined earlier last week, would let homeowners who are current on their payments save $3,000 per year through refinancing into lower-interest loans guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration.
INDIANAPOLIS -- While Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels held off Saturday on appointing a permanent replacement for the state elections chief convicted early that morning of voter fraud, Democrats said they planned to move quickly to wrest control of the politically powerful office from the GOP.
A jury from Hamilton County, just north of Indianapolis, deliberated for 13 hours before convicting Republican Secretary of State Charlie White on six felony charges. Among other things, Mr. White was accused of lying about his address on voter registration forms.
Indiana law does not allow felons to hold statewide office, and Mr. Daniels quickly appointed Mr. White's chief deputy, Jerry Bonnet, as interim secretary of state. But the governor said he was holding off on naming a permanent replacement because a judge could reduce the charge to a misdemeanor, allowing Mr. White to regain the office.
PHILADELPHIA -- The city's water department plans to seek a 28.5 percent rate increase, starting in October and spreading across a little less than three years.
The last of four proposed increases would go into effect on July 1, 2015, raising a typical homeowner's bill $196 a year over today's rate.
First Published February 5, 2012 12:00 am
