Bennett blasts Dent for housing bill vote

Congressional candidate Sam Bennett accused her opponent, U.S. Rep. Charles Dent (R-Allentown), of voting the party line over his constituents' own interest by opposing a contentious housing bill that is expected to pass in Washington shortly.

The legislation for massive government assistance in the struggling housing market has been opposed by many Republicans, and President Bush had threatened a veto until dropping that threat recently, virtually assuring its passage.

In a statement Thursday, Bennett criticized Dent's opposition to the legislation.

"I'm disappointed in Charlie Dent's vote against necessary tax relief and refinance assistance for the people of the Lehigh Valley," she said.

"It would cost our communities far more to kick families out of their homes and leave them vacant," Bennett added. "But Charlie Dent appears to care more about voting how he's told to vote than about what's in the best interest of our working families. We need change in Washington. We need someone in Washington who represents our values and votes to put this country and our economy back on the right track."

In defending his vote, Dent's office said he had rejected the legislation as a "blank check" for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored mortgage companies that have been at the center at the latest turmoil in the housing markets.

"This bill is bad public policy because it is fiscally dangerous," Dent said in a statement.  "It forces us to increase our debt limit so that the taxpayer can bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two large government-backed agencies with executives who are making, in some cases, salaries in the millions of dollars."

Bennett is challenging Dent's re-election bid in the 15th Congressional District in Northampton, Berks and Lehigh counties.