Fight Over Housing Chief Looms Large

No sooner had President Barack Obama made the surprise nomination last week of Democratic Rep. Mel Watt of North Carolina to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency than Republican senators signaled they were gearing up for a confirmation battle.

Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee told reporters he "could not be more disappointed" in the selection of the 20-year lawmaker to be the top regulator for mortgage titans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

While Corker wants any nominee for the FHFA to first submit plans for closing Fannie and Freddie, President Barack Obama said that the congressman would work to "give more Americans in low-income neighborhoods access to affordable housing."

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats primarily want to see the exit of Edward DeMarco, career government official and acting FHFA director since 2009, because he has steadfastly refused to reduce the principal on mortgages backed by Fannie and Freddie.

John Gizzi is a special columnist for Newsmax.com.