Barney Frank

Last night, newly sworn-in Fourth district Rep. Donna Edwards served as Speaker Pro Tempore for the second time in her first week in office.

She presided over the comments of colleagues like Elijah Cummings, Ted Poe, Barney Frank and others.

It can be intimidating from the rostrum, and Edwards held her own with some help on the House's parliamentary procedure from an aide.

Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) pleaded for “urgent action” to address the national foreclosure crisis during testimony this morning before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, D.C.

“In Maryland, we have an aggressive strategy to address the foreclosure crisis, but our ultimate success depends on a successful partnership with the federal government to help keep homeowners in their homes,” O’Malley said.

The governor spoke in support of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Housing Stabilization Retention Act of 2008, designed to help homeowners avoid foreclosure by enabling the FHA to insure and guarantee refinanced mortgages that have been significantly written down by mortgage holders and lenders.

On his schedule since last week, Gov. Martin O’Malley will testify before the House Financial Services committee on Capitol Hill tomorrow to discuss the foreclosure prevention bill he recently signed into law.