California lawmaker says she has paid up delinquent home loans

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A California congresswoman whose house temporarily went into foreclosure has paid up the delinquent home loans, she said.

"Everything is currently in order and has been resolved," Democratic Rep. Laura Richardson told the Long Beach Press-Telegram on Friday. The newspaper also reported she held the highest-priced lease for a government car in the U.S. House.

Richardson, running for re-election Tuesday, temporarily lost her Sacramento home to foreclosure this year. Washington Mutual sold it at auction in May but reversed the sale after Richardson complained she hadn't received proper notice.

She said she has worked out a modified loan with the lender and plans to put the home up for sale or rent in December.

She also said she modified loans for her two other homes in Long Beach and San Pedro without a reduction in interest or principal and is current on payments for a leased apartment in Washington, D.C.

She also said she lowered the lease on her government car from $1,299 a month to $774.

She provided documentation to back up her statements.

Richardson's one-year ascent from City Council to state Assembly to Congress gained national attention when the house was sold in foreclosure, followed by news she had multiple defaults on other homes.

Many of those defaults occurred when she used $177,500 of her personal money to finance her political career.

Richardson represents the 37th District, which includes parts of south-central Los Angeles, Carson, Compton and most of Long Beach.