C M Y K A13
DAILY 03-11-10 MD SU A13 CMYK
THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010
KLMNO S
From Page One
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House bans earmarks to for-profit companies
earmarks from A1 gressional earmarks to ensure
“It ensures that
they hope that President Obama ocrats and two Republicans on said Melanie Sloan, executive di-
that money is not sent to “shad- — who opposed for-profit ear- the Appropriations defense sub- rector of Citizens for Responsibili-
“Are we really willing to put it ow” nonprofit groups, a tactic that
for-profit
marks while in the Senate — will committee, finding that the law- ty and Ethics in Washington.
all on the line to win this thing?” Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), the lead- pressure his former colleagues. makers steered more than Lobbyists said a prohibition
he told reporters Wednesday. The ing earmark opponent, has
companies no
“For-profit earmarks are $245 million to clients of a lobby- against for-profit earmarks will
House Republican Conference is sought to highlight. Many non-
longer reap the
ground zero for pay-to-play, and it ing firm under federal criminal shift their focus from Capitol Hill
slated to debate the idea Thurs- profit business hubs have been set makes sense to rein them in first. investigation. The lawmakers col- to the federal agencies, particular-
day. up in the districts of senior law-
rewards of
But much of this ground gained lected more than $840,000 in po- ly the Pentagon and the Energy
The moves will have little effect makers on the appropriations will be lost if the Senate doesn’t litical contributions from the Department, whose annual budg-
on reducing spending — ear- panels; those nonprofits then dis-
congressional
step up to the plate. The campaign firm’s lobbyists and clients in a lit- ets included more than $10 bil-
marks account for less than tribute their earmarked money to cash will just flow a little more tle more than two years. lion worth of congressional ear-
$16 billion of the more than private contractors that employ
earmarks.”
heavily to the Senate,” said Steve The ethics committee ruled last marks this year.
$1 trillion a year Congress spends lobbying firms with close connec- Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers week that there was no “direct or “There will likely be greater at-
— but leaders of both parties con- tions to the lawmakers. — Nancy Pelosi, House speaker for Common Sense, which special- indirect link” between the contri- tention to making sure programs
sider earmark reform a way to At this point, the Senate ap- izes in researching earmarks. butions and earmarks, a ruling are protected in the [president’s]
take a stand against K Street in- pears unlikely to follow the gress aware of their products and The latest earmark reform ef- that watchdogs mocked Wednes- budget,” said Alan Chvotkin, a lob-
fluence. House’s lead, as senators argue services. It is no secret that these forts follow a wave of investiga- day in their praise of the new anti- byist for the Professional Services
House Appropriations Chair- that changes intended to create meetings take place. In addition, tions focusing on House appropri- earmark effort. Council in Arlington County, an
man David R. Obey (D-Wis.) esti- more transparency are sufficient. it is no secret that many of these ators’ actions. The Justice Depart- “The American public is tired of industry trade group for govern-
mated that the fiscal 2010 budget “The truth of the matter is that individuals make political contri- ment has looked into the watching members of Congress ment contractors.
included more than 1,000 ear- many, if not most, for-profit and butions,” said Senate Appropria- earmarking activities of several trade earmarks for campaign con- kanep@washpost.com
marks for private companies. He nonprofit entities lobby for them- tions Chairman Daniel K. Inouye lawmakers, and, relying on public tributions. This is a terrific first
also mandated that federal in- selves or employ lobbyists. That is (D-Hawaii). documents, the House ethics step in breaking the link between Staff writers Dan Eggen and Dana
spectors audit 5 percent of all con- how most of them make the Con- Independent watchdogs said committee investigated five Dem- campaign dollars and legislation,” Hedgpeth contributed to this report.
Who wants to topple
the housing giants?
housing from A1 tured.
The firms’ regulator, the Feder-
of all U.S. home loans. al Housing Finance Agency,
Moreover, the companies are agreed they have to help support
helping the administration pur- the market and help struggling
sue policies designed to make borrowers in the short-term.
new homes more affordable, ease FHFA added that the administra-
the burden on struggling borrow- tion and Congress must still come
ers and direct funding to parts of up with a long-term solution for
the country especially hard hit by the companies.
the downturn. Any initiative to The record of Fannie Mae and
remake the firms could distract Freddie Mac under government
energy from these programs or, in control has been mixed. The com-
some cases, put an end to them. panies, with support from the
Treasury Department and the
The political angle
Federal Reserve, have been able
Nor is the administration eager to keep mortgage interest rates
to foster a debate over Fannie low by providing substantial
Mae and Freddie Mac in an elec- amounts of money to lenders.
tion year, according to analysts This has kept the struggling
and lawmakers. The pair have housing market from declining
long been lightning rods for criti- even more, in turn helping to sta-
cism by many Republicans, who bilize the wider financial system.
call them an intrusion into the The companies have also been
free market and a Democratic pa- tapped by the Treasury Depart-
tronage haven. Many Democrats, ment to rewrite the terms of
even as they faulted companies’ home loans for struggling bor-
excesses, have defended the rowers facing foreclosure. But
firms’ role in fostering home this program — carried out by
ownership. Fannie, Freddie and other firms
And with Obama’s campaign to — has had less success. Although
overhaul financial regulation fac- 1.3 million borrowers have been
ing resistance on Capitol Hill, ad- eligible, only about one-tenth
ministration officials don’t want have had permanent mortgage
PRESTON KERES/THE WASHINGTON POST
to add another divisive issue to modifications.
Natalie Randolph “takes on any challenge you put in front of her,” said H.D. Woodson Coach Greg Fuller, who hired Randolph as an assistant.
the mix. And keeping the companies
“We’ve obviously had our solvent has been costly. To cover
hands full, as has the Congress,” their losses, the firms have both
said Michael Barr, assistant Trea- said they will need additional fed- Woman to be named head football coach
sury secretary for financial insti- eral money beyond the more than
tutions. “We’re just beginning to $125 billion already committed.
coach from A1 the individual, who asked not to
see some positive signs in the They are ramping up purchases
“It’s tough, but
tor from 1991 until 2008 and the
be identified because school offi- athletic director at Anacostia
housing market, but we’re not out of bad mortgages in an effort to
“She can do it,” said H.D. cials requested that the informa-
change has to
High School before that. “But
of the woods yet and so we want keep borrowers in their homes.
Woodson Coach Greg Fuller, who tion not be made public until Fri- [Randolph] has done her time.
to be careful to be sure that we When the Bush administration
hired Randolph as an assistant in day. “At the end, they were clap-
happen. It’s
She’s been an assistant, and I
had an appropriate, paced proc- seized the firms, it said it would
2006. “She’s a no-nonsense kind ping for her. They didn’t know
ess.” make $200 billion available to going to take
don’t see any problem in the lock-
of coach. She’s a disciplinarian. she played football.” er room because she can just
Barr said Treasury officials them. The Obama administration
She handled [the questions about While Randolph had the pow-
have been meeting informally a year ago doubled that figure,
time.”
leave.
being a woman coaching foot- er to discipline the players on the “It’s tough, but change has to
with their counterparts at the then decided late last year to offer
ball] very well because she takes H.D. Woodson team when she — Allen Chin, former athletic director happen. It’s going to take time.
White House and the Depart- them unlimited financial assis-
on any challenge you put in front was an assistant, she said she had of District public schools It’s up to each individual student
ment of Housing and Urban De- tance as a signal to investors that
of her.” to work harder to establish her- and how they handle it.”
velopment and exchanging policy the companies’ solvency was
No one is believed to have kept self with the other coaches on the al performances of many football Fuller saw how Randolph han-
papers to develop principles for guaranteed.
records on the number of women Warriors’ staff. “After the first players. dled any preconceived prejudices
overhauling Fannie Mae and But critics warn this has given
who have coached football in the week, I had more apprehension Prior to this school year, D.C. and questions about a woman
Freddie Mac. These principles in- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac a
United States, although the num- about the other coaches than Public Schools Chancellor Mi- operating in a male-dominated
clude, for instance, that the gov- blank check.
ber is small. about the players,” she told The chelle A. Rhee turned control of domain when she worked for
ernment ensure borrowers could “This idea of having money lay-
According to Sydney Cham- Post in 2006. “It was about prov- Coolidge over to Friends of Bed- him at Woodson. He said Ran-
still get mortgages even when the ing around that they can spend
bers of the Clell Wade Coaches ing myself to the other coaches.” ford, a private management firm dolph is well-qualified to coach
private market is no longer of- on whatever they think politically
Directory, which maintains a She won’t be taking over a in New York. and can handle the scrutiny.
fering loans. But whatever replac- makes sense is certainly consis-
database of all coaches at U.S. league doormat, but the Coolidge People familiar with high “You always know, with her,
es Fannie and Freddie, it should tent with what we’ve seen from
colleges, high schools and junior team she inherits does have a school athletics said the transi- she’ll get the respect because
not be allowed to grow so large this administration,” said Rep.
high schools, there was no wom- mixed reputation. The Colts were tion to head coach at the school she’ll demand it from you,” Fuller
that its failure could threaten the Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a member
an listed among the 15,675 public 39-36 during the seven years of will be a challenge for Randolph, said.
financial system. of the House Oversight and Gov-
or private high school football previous coach Jason Lane’s ten- albeit not an insurmountable goldenbacha@washpost.com
So far, Barr said, the adminis- ernment Reform Committee who
coaches last season. ure, making the DCIAA playoffs one.
tration has been too busy to build has called for an investigation
D.C. public schools officials four times. Lane resigned in Jan- “Change is not easy. I was there
out the principles. into the delay in planning for the
have been tight-lipped since uary, amid reports that school when Wanda was at Ballou, and ON ALLMETSPORTS.COM See a
The government’s extended in- companies’ future. “This is just
word of the hire leaked Tuesday, administrators were unhappy it was tough then,” said Allen photo gallery and a 2006
volvement in the companies has one more example of ridiculous
and Coolidge administrators with the academic and behavior- Chin, the DCIAA’s athletic direc- profile of Natalie Randolph.
opened the administration to government spending and huge
would not comment.
criticism from both parties that it losses to the taxpayer.”
Randolph refrained from
has failed to begin winding down
speaking further until Friday’s
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fast
Delicate timing
news conference.
enough. Some analysts say it’s an in-
The hiring of a woman to
“They weren’t planning to do opportune time to wind down the
coach football is not unprec-
much about it,” said Rep. Barney companies — or even hint at ma-
The VOB Difference.
edented in D.C. public schools. In
Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the jor change — while the housing
1985, Wanda Oates was named
House Financial Services Com- market and economy remain in
0.9% financing on all 1 and 3 Series
head football coach at Ballou.
mittee, in an interview. “They’re bad shape.
She lasted one day in the posi-
(except 335d)**
busy, and it’s hard and it’s compli- “Any suggestion now about fu-
tion, before opposing coaches
cated and they’re trying to put it ture changes could destabilize
pressured the deputy schools su-
off.” Frank said he is “forcing” the the market,” said Karen Shaw Pe-
perintendent to remove her from
issue by scheduling a committee trou, managing director of analy-
the job because they didn’t want
2010 128i Convertible
hearing later this month, sum- sis firm Federal Financial Analyt-
to coach against a woman.
Lease for $379/mo.*
moning Geithner and other offi- ics and a longtime observer of
When Oates learned Wednes-
cials to discuss options for re- housing finance policy. “The U.S.
day that Randolph had landed
forming the firms. mortgage market is so fragile that
the job at Coolidge, she smiled
Once among their strongest all Treasury needs to say is ‘boo’
and shook her head that it took
supporters, Frank has more re- and it could fall apart.”
25 years for the next woman to
cently called for their abolish- But time could be tight. Under
take this step.
ment. But he said he still expects the firms’ agreement with the
“It’s a tremendous opportunity
the government to play a role pro- Treasury Department, they must
for that young lady,” said Oates,
2010 528i Sedan
viding funding for low-income shrink their mortgage portfolios
67, who teaches physical educa-
Lease for $479/mo.*
housing and subsidies for home every year, eroding their ability to
tion at Wilson High in Upper
ownership. support the market.
Northwest Washington. “Football
Future scenarios for reforming James Lockhart, a former top
is the macho of all macho sports,
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac regulator of Fannie Mae and
and once we break that glass ceil-
range widely — from total privati- Freddie Mac, said the administra-
ing, there’s no limit to what we
zation to total nationalization. tion is erring by waiting another
can accomplish.”
But no consensus has emerged year to begin the reform process.
Randolph was introduced to
VOB BMW
over the best fix. “The clock is ticking. We need
the Coolidge team after school on
Spokesmen for Fannie Mae and to reinvigorate the private mort-
Tuesday, according to a person
Freddie Mac said their current fo- gage market and create some-
who was at the meeting. The boys
The Area’s Largest BMW Dealership,
www.vobbmw.com
The Ultimate
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on the team displayed some ini-
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301-984-8989
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tial skepticism, this person said,
1300 Rockville Pike
helping distressed borrowers re- “It’s unhealthy to have as much
but Randolph won them over.
Rockville, MD 20852
*Lease Terms:36mo./10,000 mi./yr. All leases require $3500 Cap reduction plus applicable taxes, tags, 1st Payment, Security Deposit and Acquisition fee
main in their homes. The compa- government involvement in the
“Some of the kids tried to test
all due at lease signing. Any applicable BMW Spring Drive Credit or Build Out Cash has already been applied to lease calculations. MSRP/Stock #: 128 301-984-8989
Conv.$42000/#140753, 528i $47125/#140360. **0.9% financing for 24 months. All offers for qualified buyers approved through BMWFS. Vehicles shown arefor
nies did not address the question mortgage market as we have in
her knowledge of football, and
VOBBMW.com
illustrative purposes only and may not represent exact vehicle. Vehicles subject to prior sale. All offers end April 1, 2010.
of how they should be restruc- this country.”
she just shot them down,” said
C M Y K A13
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