Housing panelists seeking to cut bank red tape.

WASHINGTON - A majority of the House Banking Committee's 51 members are urging Chairman Henry B. Gonzalez, D-Tex., to schedule a vote on regulatory for banks and thrifts.

Although Congress "is only weeks away from adjournment, advocates hope a committee vote would make it easier to tack at least a few relief items onto related bills that are in the final stages of consideration.

An aide to Rep. Doug Bereuter, the sponsor of the relief measures, said the Nebraska Republican was eyeing the National Affordable Housing bill as a potential vehicle.

Going to Conference

The housing package is expected to be considered soon by a House-Senate conference. Sen. Alan Cranston, D-Calif., chairman of the Senate's housing subcommittee. said last week he hoped to address regulatory burden in the bill.

Responding to a question from Sen. Terry Sanford. D-N.C., Sen. Cranston said laws governing appraisal standards, insider lending, executive compensation, and thrift investment in real estate subsidiaries ought to be addressed this year.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Gonzales said the committee chairman has not yet had time to study the request.

An Opposing View

However, Rep. Gonzalez's banking committee aides have let it be known that they think regulatory relief ought to be taken up next year in the context of a larger legislative package.

Most of the 27 committee members who signed the letter are Republicans, but a few key Democrats - including Rep. Peter Hoagland of Neb. and Rep. Jim Slattery of Kansas - added their names.

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