Highland Park, IL – Rep. Mark Kirk voted against the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act yesterday, a bill designed to protect American homeowners from questionable loan practices. Although the bill passed the House with the support of 64 moderate Republicans, Kirk stood with the credit card companies and predatory lenders to vote against the bill.

“Losing a home is incredibly traumatic for the family and for their community,” Jay Footlik, Democratic congressional candidate for Illinois’ 10th District, said today. “According to RealtyTrac, there are 20,008 foreclosures currently under way in Illinois. Those are the folks Mark Kirk should be siding with, not predatory lenders.”

Statistics have shown that many homeowners in the current mortgage crisis received more expensive loans than they qualified for. The Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act prohibits financial incentives for subprime loans that encourage lenders to steer borrowers into more costly loans.

The rising number of foreclosures nationwide has pushed the housing market into its worst slump in 16 years - weakening the American economy and putting many homeowners at risk.

“When our elected officials are protecting predatory lenders over home buyers, it’s time for a change in Washington,” Footlik said. “I’m running for Congress because we need a Representative with the right priorities to get this country back on track.”