Dems Seek Foreclosure Czar, Lifting of GSE Caps

House and Senate Democratic leaders are urging the Bush administration to act more forcefully in addressing the "foreclosure crisis," and they are threatening to pass a measure to temporarily raise the caps on Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's portfolios if the administration does not take such action quickly.Fannie and Freddie could provide more liquidity to the mortgage market and help subprime borrowers refinance to save their homes, said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., adding that he is prepared to press the Senate to pass a bill that would remove the caps on the government-sponsored enterprises for one year. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., said he would support the Schumer bill if it clears the Senate. Democratic leaders are also calling on the administration to appoint a czar to oversee its response to the foreclosure crisis and to press servicers and lenders to modify loans for distressed homeowners.