Phil Matier: State AG Decides To Negotiate On Foreclosure Settlement
SACRAMENTO (KCBS)— California Attorney General Kamala Harris is at odd with the federal government about joining a settlement with the country's largest banks over the foreclosure crisis.
Harris opted out of the settlement last year and said it was a bad deal for the state. She is still in negotiations over whether California will sign on.
KCBS, CBS 5 and SF Chronicle Insider Phil Matier said Harris changed her mind after taking a look at where things were standing.
KCBS and Chronicle Insider Reports:
"It's $25 billion nationwide. That sounds impressive," but Matier broke it down to what that would actually mean. He said it translates to knocking $20,000 off of principles if people's houses are "underwater".
"Let's get real. That's not going to save anybody's house."
He added that $2,000 payments to people's houses that were already foreclosed on is something, but he questioned if it would really be enforced on the banks.
Matier said one of the biggest stumbling blocks for Harris if a settlement is agreed upon is whether that precludes banks from other, perhaps current investigations of fraud or other discrepancies.
Basically Matier wondered if this would be settling for a "quick payment".
However, with so many waiting for economic relief when it comes to the foreclosure situation, pressure seems to be mounting for Harris to sign the settlement.
Matier speculated that, "knowing her [Harris] ... she's going to take that to the bank."
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