The foreclosure crisis is serious for all Californians. Every one of us knows someone whose family has been devastated by the housing crisis.

We have seen firsthand the toll this crisis has taken on individual families and on our communities.

There’s a political move afoot to develop far-reaching legislation outside the normal legislative process by creating a Mortgage Reform Conference Committee. The housing crisis is a serious problem. Any effort to find solutions should be transparent and not rushed.

If the majority party still decides to establish this Conference Committee, there are a few provisions Republicans are requesting so that the Conference Committee’s work is transparent and protects those in foreclosure, those seeking to refinance, new home buyers, and our California economy overall.

Here are the items we are requesting to allow for more transparency:

Appropriate 4-day file notices of all hearings or meetings of the Conference Committee.

Availability of the agendas to the public 3 days prior to the hearings or meetings.

A 3-day in-print review period of any conference report prior to signature by members of the Conference Committee.

All hearings or meetings of the Conference Committee shall start during normal working hours, on normal days of the work week, to ensure public access and shall also be televised.