ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS NEWS RELEASE

Green & Schaer Announce Hearing on

Christie’s Failure to Help More Families Facing Foreclosure

Christie on Monday Refused to Answer WABC-TV Questions on His Failure

(TRENTON) – The chairman of two key Assembly committees on Tuesday announced they plan to call a joint hearing to examine the Christie administration’s failure to help more families facing foreclosure.

Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset) and Assembly Deputy Speaker Gary Schaer made the announcement after Gov. Christie refused to answer questions from a WABC-TV reporter on why his administration has helped few homeowners facing foreclosure.

New Jersey has the nation’s second highest foreclosure rate, but Gov. Christie has delivered only $4 million out of $300 million in federal foreclosure aid. About 500 families have been helped, but nearly 2,000 have been denied assistance by the Christie administration.

Green chairs the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee. Schaer chairs the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. Both have sponsored bills to help combat the foreclosure crisis in New Jersey.

“Gov. Christie may not want to be held accountable for failing to help New Jersey families facing foreclosure, but he cannot hide from his failure to help New Jersey families at risk of losing their homes, no matter how loudly he yells and bullies,” said Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset). “The administration’s approach is not working. While Gov. Christie may want to avoid the subject, New Jersey’s middle-class and poor deserve answers and help.”

“We need to get answers and get this program moving for the benefit of struggling New Jersey families,” said Schaer (D-Passaic/Bergen). “Helping families affected by the Great Recession must be among the highest priorities of the General Assembly. I remain concerned about Gov. Christie’s refusal to answer questions about his administration’s slow action in helping as many affected homeowners as possible.”

Green and Schaer said details about the hearing will be announced soon.