Schumer to Unveil Emergency GSE Bill

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., says he will introduce emergency legislation to raise the caps on Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's portfolios if the Bush administration does not act soon.The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight recently rejected a request by Fannie Mae to lift the cap on its portfolio -- preventing the government-sponsored enterprise from providing liquidity for the subprime market. Sen. Schumer warned that the problems in the subprime sector are spilling over into the broader mortgage market and that the administration should act now. "We cannot afford a 'wait-and-see' approach when it comes to a credit crisis that threatens to derail our economy," the Senate Banking Committee member said. He said he plans to introduce his bill, if necessary, as soon as Congress returns from its August recess after Labor Day.