STEVE INSKEEP, host: NPR's business news starts with a nudge from Ben Bernanke.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: The chairman of the Federal Reserve has urged mortgage lenders and the government to do more to prevent foreclosures. Ben Bernanke's comments came last night, and they came as home foreclosures continued to spread. His view seems to differ from that of Bush administration, which wants the industry to deal with the problem, not necessarily the government, by working out new mortgage terms with struggling homeowners.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: Bernanke also backs the idea of the Federal Housing Administration refinancing troubled mortgages. That is a key part of legislation that House Democrat Barney Frank is pushing through Congress right now, although the Fed chief did not openly endorse that bill.
The Federal Reserve chairman has urged mortgage lenders and the government to do more to prevent foreclosures. Ben Bernanke's comments Monday night come as home foreclosures continue to spread. His views differ from that of the Bush administration, which wants only the industry to deal with the problem.