Friday, January 12, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Appoints Bipartisan, Blue Ribbon Panel to Recommend Reforms to Housing Agency
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today appointed a group of Republican and Democrat leaders to serve on a blue ribbon panel tasked with recommending reforms of the state’s housing finance agency. Blunt appointed the bipartisan panel to examine the Missouri Housing Development Commission and its operations.
“This kind of full government review of the state’s housing agency has never occurred,” Blunt said. “Concerns have been raised about the transparency and efficiency of the agency and I have tasked this bipartisan panel to find ways to save money for taxpayers. I appreciate the panel members for their willingness to serve and I look forward to receiving their recommendations.”
The governor appointed the following members to the bipartisan blue ribbon panel:
- Co-Chair State Sen. Jack Goodman (R)
- Co-Chair Gary Collins (D), former MHDC Chair
- Lou Berra (D), President Development Resource Group
- Bill Brown (R), a former regional HUD director
- State Rep. Stan Cox (R)
- Bill Greiner (R), chief investment officer UMB
- State Rep. Rodney Hubbard (D)
- John Joines (R), Community Action Agency director
- Margaret Kelly (R), former state auditor
- State Sen. Harry Kennedy (D)
- Becky Scorse (R), loan officer at Guaranty Bank in Springfield, city housing authority member
The governor has requested the panel to make recommendations to him in 90 days.
The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) makes investments in rental housing developments, preservation of affordable rental housing, home mortgages, home improvement loans, grants to neighborhood housing groups and other housing programs. MHDC functions as a bank, providing financing directly to borrowers or through a network of private lending institutions.
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