House Panel Approves Bankruptcy Bill Cramdown for CH 13

House lawmakers on Wednesday advanced legislation that would enable homeowners to shrink their mortgages in bankruptcy court.

The bill ... was passed by the House Judiciary Committee 17 to 15 ...

House leaders appeared unlikely to bring the bill up for a vote before year-end. ...

Mortgage-industry leaders argue that giving judges this power, which they term a "cramdown," would force lenders to charge higher rates to offset any unpaid loan balances that would be reduced in court.

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