House OKs bill to let judges rewrite mortgages

WASHINGTON - The House has passed legislation to give debt-strapped homeowners a chance to win lower mortgage payments through bankruptcy courts. The vote was 234-191 to approve the measure. It faces a tough road in the Senate, where Republicans and some Democrats oppose the idea. The bill gives bankruptcy judges new power to reduce the interest rate and principal on a home mortgage. It's part of President Obama's housing rescue plan.