Builders Ask Federal Lawmakers: 'Are You With Us or Not?'

In meetings with our nation's lawmakers, homebuilders from around the country pushed to get a housing aid plan into Obama's economic rescue package, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The National Association of Home Builders brought around 80 builders -- mainly from smaller, privately owned companies -- for meetings with lawmakers from their districts, particularly those on committees that will handle President-elect Barack Obama's economic rescue package.

"Don't take their usual squishy answers," exhorted Jerry Howard, chief executive of the home builders' trade group in a feisty Wednesday morning pep talk. "We need to know today: Are you with us or not?"

Builders want a package of subsidies that would bring mortgage rates to just under 3 percent for the first half of this year. They also favor a tax credit of up to $22,000 for home purchases. However, there seems little hope a housing relief package will Obama's economic stimulus plan. Political insiders say it will be part of a separate bill outlining new rules for the remaining $350 billion in financial industry bailout money.

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