Title: Brown: Mass. Needs Diverse Voices In Congress

" This is the WBUR. News podcast for Monday September 14 the service of WBUR. Boston's NPR news station I'm Bob thanks coming up. Campus health officials in Massachusetts wait for signs of the swine flu. Massachusetts regulators defend their oversight of mortgage brokers blame for the State's foreclosure crisis. And what to expect from New England Patriots 2009. And first in the field of candidates for the US senate seat held by the late Edward Kennedy continues to take shape. State senator Scott Brown launched a campaign over the weekend for the Republican nomination. Brown is campaigning with endorsements from people who previously been considered possible senate candidates. Former bush White House chief of staff Andrew Card. And former Massachusetts lieutenant governor Kerry -- As part of an ongoing series of conversation with the Senate candidates we spoke with Scott Brown this morning just a short time ago. My pleasure to be -- Let me asking me -- only one of five Republicans currently among the forty members of those states ended up on Beacon Hill congressional delegation. Is entirely democratic. And I'm sure many people out there on the other end of the radio were wondering how realistic do you think it is that you're going to be able to change that become. The first Republican represented Massachusetts in the Senate since Ed Brooke. Was elected in 1972."

" Well -- certainly am an underdog in them up against the machine and in Massachusetts and I'm not part of that machine and you know I'm not going to promised to pander to anybody and I've I've been an independent voice in Massachusetts in the legislature now. Okay continue to be that way down there you pointed out something right we have eleven people. Down there already who were. Democratic delegation and I don't plan to be a rubber stamp for either party."

" Do you subscribe to the notion that many people. Do you subscribe to the political notion that that that many people do that this seat will be even more tough to win for a Republican -- around because. It's the seat that was held by Ted Kennedy."

" Well certainly Senator Kennedy was a little legend in life and and then got those those pictures is certainly harder to fill. I don't think it's if he gets any one party is has a right to anyone person. And I think there's so much anxiety and anger and frustration out there would business as usual that the people of Massachusetts are looking for. A change and I think they would like to send somebody down there was a little bit more independent -- the folks that that they are now that mean they're they're very nice people but it. You know to have eleven people kind of doing the same thing in turning to the same person in the same party. It would be nice wouldn't it to have had a different voice down there."

" Let's talk about some issues if we can there's plenty to talk on this Monday morning met the so called public option. In national healthcare reform may be moving off the table since. A key senate Republican Maine senator Olympia Snowe says. I she won't support it some congressional Democrats appear to be backing off where were you on the public option and national healthcare."

" it's really a government option and -- take obviously certainly it for here are some Massachusetts and somewhat surprised that the delegation -- so easily support this bill we have almost 94% of our people insured here in Massachusetts. And that we have a fantastic healthcare system -- teaching hospitals insurance companies to provide great benefits for our states. Why would we wanted to I feel dumb down the medical services and medical insurance in Massachusetts to. Provide for that type of plants so I'm not -- in favor of a malware actually reading the entire bill as we speak. And so at this point I agree with -- Olympia."

" Today is the one year anniversary of the start of the financial crisis in the US it was one year ago today that Lehman Brothers the investment bank. Went belly up at eight and within days the of the US economy was pretty much in a full scale panic today. The president is marking the anniversary by saying that he wants to review efforts. The -- the financial system back from the brink stressing how much work must be done before the damage is truly mended there's some. Question about whether he's going to pull back from the regulation of the financial markets that he suggested just a few months ago where you wanna."

" Well you know the economy it's all about the economy and jobs for -- case -- retired players plans have certainly been hurt and jobs and only in Massachusetts but throughout the country have been lost. Financial services will certainly play a larger role in that recovery. And they were even talking about 800 billion dollars for the previous stimulus of -- maybe even during another one so pulling back on the the financial -- I think if you do too much too soon. You know it it doesn't have a chance to catch up and see if we can't work out of this ourselves to free enterprise through you know government two private enterprise intervention -- And creativity so I'm all in favor of us just holding back for a little bit and letting a private enterprise try to get us out of this masks."

" You just mentioned it another government stimulus plan it's being talked about by some is that a good idea or not a good night."

" I don't think so what you know right now we've spent. Of them most money we spent probably in the history of our country and we are leaving a legacy. And messing up I made an amazing amounts of debt. Passing out -- kids and grandkids and at some point we're just going to be top heavy I have a very I have very real concerns about. China and other companies owning our debt does that affect our national security in any way but at some point we have to -- not so much on government government has a place. They have a place that they -- also should know -- to -- out a way in a lot of the stimulus from the previous. Package really didn't go to me creating jobs it was really to backfill local local state government as we did here in Massachusetts."

" Congressman Barney Frank is -- a leader in a movement on Capitol Hill. To make financial industry executives more accountable hold their salaries in check in the process do you think that's a good idea."

" I don't agree I with the -- proposal on that we should let the free enterprise and business market. They're doing it used to do to get our economy back and running and I am concerned that government intervention into private business is its historic crossing the line."

" And where are you in the war in Afghanistan. In terms of whether or not you think we need to ramp up the fight against the Talabani in Afghanistan or whether you think guess some do that this war is unwinnable perhaps it's this administration's Vietnam. Should we pull out should or should week. At least consider pulling out."

" You know that that's -- that's the million dollar question should we stand in ramped up assuring and at this point I'm not sure to be asked to do I. I'm not sure I wrestled with -- every single day in my life but I know that on the one hand we wanna try to stabilize stabilize that region on the other hand. -- it is good to visit to -- I just don't know yet."

" Massachusetts state senator Scott Brown Republican candidate for the US senate. Thank you very much for speaking in the morning and thank you very much. Schools are back in session across the country and on some college campuses many students are already reporting sick. Worried about flu like symptoms. 12500. And Washington State University out west for instance. But in the Boston area colleges and universities are not feeling much of an impact yet. WBU wars health and science reporter Sacha Pfeiffer is in the studio now to explain good morning session the morning about a tell us what you're hearing from the schools around here."

" What most campus health clinic I called said they're not overly busy and they're certainly not overwhelmed with six students so far. As of Friday at Boston university for example had only confirmed seven cases of students with flu like illnesses and that's out of more than 30000 students. MIT has confirmed just three cases of the flu. Bring this university in Waltham had twelve cases and Boston College had fourteen although only about five of those were confirmed."

" If they're not confirmed cases then know what exactly are they do we know are these H1N1 swine flu cases were talking about or. Is that the seasonal flu."

" Well the state is no longer testing for swine flu because it was getting overwhelmed with samples. And the Centers for Disease Control is advising doctors to test for seasonal flu only the sick patient has some underlying condition like diabetes or asthma Beckett put -- pirates. So the director of health services at Boston College doctor Tom Mary says that means there -- a lot of unanswered questions."

" Confirmation. Is a difficult problem now. Because the guidelines are not to really test but if someone comes in with flu like symptoms which are cheaper. -- throat and cough and we presume. -- person have a 21 win that --"

" The reason they feel confident presuming it's H1N1 is that this would be and usually early in the year to -- season off so what's happening on the college campuses where lots of students. Are reporting -- why are we hearing about those incidents in those places. The short answer is that we're really not sure since there's still quite a lot we don't know about each one and one. But one thing could be that some of those colleges and other states started classes a few weeks earlier than colleges in the Boston area. So that had more time for the virus to circulate and we might see higher numbers in coming weeks. Also just because students at places like Washington State are going to the health clinic doesn't mean actually have the flu because remember they're not testing anymore. Doctor David diamond he's the associate medical director MIT told me that many students are more anxious than usual just because they're afraid they have a slightly."

" Part of what we're seeing is people who otherwise might not come by. I have a little cold and wanted to know is the flu so the worried well and then not so sick is part of the problem."

" So doctor diamond says his staff is trying to deliver a delicate message."

" It's not that we don't wanna see if you're sick. But if you add these miners symptoms you don't need to commit to the and -- and if you do get there you know temperature per hundred points Bryant and other symptoms. Will be happy to see you but you know what in most cases we may do nothing that didn't tell you you're sick and your home."

" So slash -- is that what colleges are gonna do here is a doctor Daimon says send kids home."

" It varies at Brandeis if a student with the flu lives in a two person dorm then the healthy student is actually been asked to find somewhere else to state temporarily. But most other schools are telling students to stay put."

" Or to go home to their famous for awhile if they live locally among students who do have flew right now how sick are beginning."

" They're actually not getting all that sick relatively speaking. As doctor Mary at Boston College puts it the suspected cases are turning out as to be as bad as some people thought would be last spring."

" This is not a vicious live. Most of the students that we have in other -- also are still for a very short time port 448 hours. They get better quickly and symptoms seem to be. Much less than what -- because the average signature so it."

" To prevent the flu then the the recommendations we've been hearing are still in operation. Wash your hands. Cover your cough sneeze into your elbow and again. Wash your hands and a -- yes absolutely do all of those things Sacha Pfeiffer thanks a lot thank you -- of Sacha Pfeiffer is WBUR health and science reporter he can keep up to date on this story and all health news at the new health and science section of our website wbur.org. Massachusetts lags far behind other New England states in the number of serious disciplinary actions against mortgage brokers. That's the conclusion of an investigation. By the new England center for investigative reporting at Boston University. Which is a collaborative effort that includes WBUR. The Boston Globe New England cable news. And the trade publication banker and trades man. The centers senior investigative reporter Joe -- Tino has the story. --"

" Alvarez has the face of a trusting man 57 years old and a father of two young children he emigrated here from Columbia 37 years ago. His warm smile is followed by a gentle handshake. On this summer afternoon in -- he is taking its kids a boy and a girl to a nearby park. He's out of work because of a back injury he suffered while doing some repair work on his home. Several steps up from the sidewalk where we're standing is that -- home one Alvarez can barely afford."

" As the beginning we have to figure out how to come out with the money for the advantage we do you know what to do so. Who is leading in when can we make peace and anyway if."

" Alvarez breaks down into tears. Despite his family income 38000 dollars a year. He obtained 580000. Dollars worth of sub prime loans that add up to a yearly mortgage payment of almost 48000 dollars a year. His mortgage broker your home mortgage and Chelsea's. Its contacts there your home's owner -- is sort."

" Here we have both from the same country. Nine Hewitt suiting me -- they've member of his family. I sort of scam free from giving you name and -- can completely."

" Alvarez says this so no never explained the terms of the mortgages that he was forced to take in boarders to meet his monthly payment. Your home mortgages now the subject of a greater Boston legal services lawsuit alleging unfair and deceptive practices and discrimination. The company was also the subject of two complaints sent to the state division of banks which regulates mortgage brokers and lenders. Legal services attorney Nadine --"

" I think that there was a lot more that probably could've been done at that time."

" Cohen is specifically referring to what happened when a non profit foreclosure prevention specialist. Filed two complaints with the state division of banks about your home mortgage. In one letter on behalf of Alvarez she wrote the division saying that Alvarez as mortgages appear to be based on quote no income verification. Division of banks wrote back saying it didn't see anything wrong with like your home mortgage had done."

" A failure to take. Is mounting came over me because I was hoping that I was going through is some hope that -- in America can."

" Maurice COO sorrento who -- his brother Diego run your home mortgage wouldn't talk about the lawsuit or complaints against their company. Except to say they denied the allegations. The Soros also have a realistic company calls too -- in months. It's part of our investigation we found that nearly 50%. Of the residential sales to constant had been involved in. Representing the buyer and the seller since 2005. And it up in some stage of foreclosure. The average foreclosure rate for residential properties in Massachusetts. About 9%. So where was the state division of banks which regulates mortgage brokers and lenders as a sub prime mortgage crisis escalated. Over the past two and a half years as the predatory lending crisis was exploding. The Massachusetts division of banks issued 43 serious disciplinary actions. Suspensions for vacations or forced license surrenders against mortgage brokers and lenders. That's slightly less than 3% of the companies it licenses. And it puts Massachusetts dead last compared to every other state in New England. And below North Carolina which has a similar number of brokers. Tom Callahan is director of the Massachusetts alliance for affordable housing."

" Anytime you hear that Massachusetts is well below national averages are well below where other states are in terms of enforcement actions there. Or cracking down on behavior that we wanna crack down. It's a concern."

" We asked division of bank's chief operating officer David -- about his agency's record is that acceptable. I think that we have. Excellent record of taking action when we found a problem and again keeping people out of the business so that they won't. Perpetrate this point cut -- argues that the divisions 210. Informal actions. The details of which are not made public have prevented more serious mortgage abuses. Division also sees itself as leading the way in policy initiatives to reform the mortgage industry. So why so few serious enforcement actions. Our investigation found that Massachusetts has more than double the number of investigators. Compare to all of the other states we surveyed. But it might not be enough. A 2007 Massachusetts state audit citing a need for more aggressive enforcement by the division of banks said quote. The agency's capacity to perform examinations of mortgage brokers. It's not kept pace with the increase the number of mortgage lenders and brokers under its authority. Again Tom Callahan of the Massachusetts alliance for affordable housing."

" Maybe division -- wasn't nimble enough to switch and pull resources from the banking credit union world and and say we. Our major concern has got to be the mortgage companies."

" In response to the state audit the division of bank successfully lobbied the legislature. For funding to hire more examiners. But despite that extra manpower the number of examinations of mortgage brokers and lenders dropped by 74 between 2006 and 2008. Not until 2008 the the agency set up a special unit to investigate mortgage fraud. In the meantime the number of foreclosures in Massachusetts more than doubled. While Massachusetts compared to the six other states we looked at ranks last in the number of serious enforcement actions. It ranks second in its foreclosure rate. So why didn't the division of banks take action when he received complaints about your home mortgage the company that gave money Alvarez his sub prime loans. The banking division stated --"

" I'm not familiar with this particular issue apple what I can tell you is we don't just have a policy. Of saying these are bad acts or practices we actually do have a track record."

" That was company's answer to practically every one of our questions. Division of banks has a track record that it's proud. When we asked about the depth severity and impact of the sub prime crisis in Massachusetts. -- chief operating officer at the division of banks did not have an answer can put a dollar value on the toxic assets have been produced in Massachusetts through. Bad mortgage practices and now you have no idea. But a dollar and approximate dollar. Every you know bodies found how many cameras December -- that they don't know how much that means they can with two -- them. Legal services attorney Nadine --"

" What troubles me most is that it's. -- her unsophisticated. Often non English speaking people. Put their hard earned money intent buying house. And really tried their best to make their payments. They were doomed from the beginning --"

" The experts we interviewed for this story say those families are not the only victims. All of us are paying the price for lack of aggressive enforcement of the mortgage industry. In the midst of the worst mortgage crisis in recent history at a time when foreclosures. Are still on the rise the state division of -- record is this. Only 43 serious disciplinary actions over two and a half years. The worst record in New England. For WBUR. I'm Joe --"

" In June during the course of the investigation -- your home mortgage gave up its brokerage license claiming insolvency. And of England center for investigative reporting at Boston University is the nation's first university based investigative reporting collaborative. Focusing on local and regional issues."

" Four New England Patriots fans who were disappointed to your team didn't make the playoffs despite eleven wins last season the wait for. The next season is over -- quarterback Tom Brady back at the Helm after missing most of last season with a knee injury. The pats opened the season tonight on Monday Night Football at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro against the Buffalo Bills. -- will be covering this and all the patriots games formally of the Boston Globe. Mike begins work today at ESPN boston.com. We asked him what to expect."

" The expectations are very high this season for the patriots and it comes right back. To having Tom Brady back at quarterback in the -- and it's another impressive players on offense in the feeling around. The National Football League -- the patriots offense should be one of the best in the entire league. Is the big question for the pats offense centered on Tom Brady's knee -- healthy is he ready to play that is the big question in and it does all hinge on Tom Brady and in terms of -- health at this point I think he's further along than a lot of people thought he would be. Does that mean 100% or something less than 100% I'd say it's still something less than 100%. But you know 90% of Tom Brady let's say if that's the number. It's probably better than most of the quarterbacks around the NFL."

" There have been submitted departures from the team primarily on defense so let's talk about the defense for a minute and chiefly I'm talking about. A Tedy Bruschi who retired Richard Seymour who was traded as well as Rodney Harrison and Mike Vrabel how big a loss of those four guys."

" Those four guys are are very big losses for the team both on the field but maybe even more so. Off the field and in the locker room all four players work great leaders for the patriots so. I think one of the big questions facing this defense this year is which players will step up and become the leaders did they have enough on defense right now under the patriots have enough on defense to stop. The big offenses. In the AFC. I would say that that is up for debate and my thought is. If they didn't have that great offense that they were complementing the answer would probably be no but -- this the fence has. A larger margin for error than other defenses around the league because. The patriots offense with Tom Brady back is probably gonna score around 28 points a game average in and so bad defense. Has a little bit more margin for error. Beyond a Brady in the offense and possibility of 128 points a game on average one of the strengths of this team. Well I would say -- you mentioned the offense I think the head coach Bill Belichick is one of the greatest minds and they team and and when you look around the league. More than ten teens have new head coach is this year so in a way the patriots had a head start on all the other teams in terms of RD having your system in place and they really building. On that foundation it's in the air over the last. Nine years. Big picture beyond the things we've talked about what are the weaknesses of the patriots well I would say defensively last year they they really struggle they were 26 out of the 32 teams. On third down and that's a key down because that's when. If you can stop the opposition you turn it back over here -- so I think weaknesses. They need to be able to pressure opposing quarterbacks better on third down and their coverage in the secondary needs to be better as well."

" Right now I have in front of me the NFL preview scouting report which he wrote for the for the Boston Globe you have. The pats as the number one team in the AFC east so you think you're gonna make the playoffs."

" It you think they'll make the playoffs and and I think that division helps them because I don't see the Buffalo Bills. Being a primary contender I think the New York Jets with a rookie quarterback. They're gonna have some early growing pains in the Miami Dolphins who won this AFC east division last year I think they'll be a formidable foe but I just think. Having Tom Brady back -- will make the patriots the class of the division. Of course they could be but do you think they will be in the super ball. I don't think they will be there and and it's just a hunch and it's always so hard to project at this time of year but I keep coming back to that the fans than and they had questions last year they've tried to rectify them. This year and the early signs in the pre season -- that there's still question marks there."

" Mike Kris thanks a lot appreciate your talking to us on morning edition thanks -- Mike -- reports on a New England Patriots for ESPN boston.com."

" This podcast is a free service of WBUR Boston to make a contribution to support the news go to our website wbur.org."