We’re not surprised that the Legislature couldn’t manage to pass a bill conforming to the federal Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 (MFDRA ’07) by April 15, 2008. What we are surprised about is that there is no sense of urgency under the dome to help taxpayers faced with tax bills due to their foreclosed homes.

Both AB 1918 (Niello) and SB 1055 (Machado) would provide some relief by partially conforming California to the federal MFDRA ’07 provisions. But these bills are stuck in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. If this is an issue you care about, please contact Assemblyman Calderon, chair of Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, at (916) 319-2058 or by fax at (916) 319-2158. Tell him that you support both bills, and he needs to release at least one of the bills from out of his committee. We’d prefer to see SB 1055 move out, since that bill has already passed the full Senate and just has a few more legislative stops to make before finding its way to the governor’s desk.

Alternatively, you can visit Assemblyman Calderon’s Web site to send him an e-mail: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a58/

But, please contact him no later than next Tuesday, May 20, 2008, as legislative deadlines are fast approaching.