Democrats, Bush Square Off Over Housing Relief

President Resists Wide-Scale Assistance

By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and Lori Montgomery
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 20, 2008; D01

Now that the Federal Reserve has pledged billions of dollars to rescue Wall Street bankers from possible default, lawmakers and regulators are turning their attention to helping average citizens -- from homeowners in danger of foreclosure to people who want to buy a home.

But unlike the Fed's rapid moves last week to stabilize financial markets, the consumer benefits are likely to progress slowly as they face resistance from the Bush administration on some broad issues and from special interests on some narrow ones.