Ohio Gov. Bob Taft wants to crack down on predatory lending by making the state's consumer protection laws applicable to mortgage brokers and loan officers.

In a letter this week to legislators, Taft said regulation of the mortgage professionals falls short of protecting consumers. In addition to expanding the scope of the consumer sales practices act, he proposed tighter lender licensing, tougher conduct requirements and greater disclosure to consumers.

"It is simply not enough to regulate the lenders," Taft wrote Thursday in a letter to Senate and House GOP leaders. "Ohio law must protect consumers starting at state licensure of lenders and continuing through the life of each mortgage loan transaction."

Specifically, expanding the scope of the consumer laws to cover mortgage professionals would give the state attorney general jurisdiction to pursue complaints of deceptive or unfair trade practices.

The state's foreclosure rate is the worst in the nation. Despite federal probes of mortgage fraud in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton and questions about the rising foreclosure rate across the state, the General Assembly has studied the issue for a couple of years - but enacted no new laws.

The governor's proposal would go farther than a bill proposed in September by Sen. Joy Padgett, R-Coshocton. Padgett's bill would let the attorney general take action against two specific practices - inflated appraisals and equity stripping - at the heart of an ongoing federal investigation of mortgage fraud in Greater Cincinnati.

Ohio's percentage of loans in foreclosure crept above the U.S. average in 1999 and has since spiked to more than three times the national average in the past two years, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Kentucky's foreclosure rate is almost 1.9 percent. In Hamilton County, the number of foreclosures appraised for sale by the sheriff's office has doubled from roughly 30 a week to more than 60.

Taft has directed the state Department of Commerce to seek an additional $1.5 million in annual spending authority to step up its regulation of the mortgage broker industry. Critics say the department doesn't have adequate enforcement abilities.

"I think it's a significant step forward," said Driehaus, who represents some of the neighborhoods hit hardest by mortgage fraud. "I'm very encouraged he's taken a position on this and that the governor is leading on this issue."

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