"Over the past seven years, as incomes fell and wages stagnated, many families were lured into risky mortgages with rates that later jumped beyond what they could afford. No, we can debate what was technically illegal; we can debate what should be defined as predatory. But there is no debate that what happened did not reflect the best of our financial system.

"It did not reflect prudence, transparency or even an understanding that behind large bundles of securitized mortgages are real families who were led into bad situations by people who should have, and even did, know better."
» Wall Street Journal, Dec. 5, 2007

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has proposed a four-point plan to curb mortgage abuses, assist families facing foreclosure and expand affordable housing. Here are some of her proposals.

Crack down on unscrupulous mortgage brokers:

• Require mortgage brokers to disclose to borrowers that their compensation rises when borrowers' mortgage rates and mortgage fees are high.
• Work with states to develop strong licensing standards and require federal registration for mortgage brokers.

Crack down on mortgage lending abuses:

• Eliminate prepayment penalties on mortgage products.
• Require mortgage lenders to include the cost of taxes and insurance in the underwriting assessment of higher-risk mortgages.

Help reduce foreclosures:

• Establish a $1 billion fund to assist state programs that help at-risk borrowers avoid foreclosure.
• Expand Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's foreclosure prevention efforts by helping a larger number of at-risk homeowners avoid foreclosure.

Expand affordable housing:

• Establish a $1 billion fund to provide federal support to housing trust funds established by state, county and municipal governments.

No voting record on subprime issues is available.