Senator Seeks to Speed Bill Barring Fannie-Freddie Stake Sales

Senator Bob Corker is pushing to advance his plan to bar the Treasury Department from selling its stakes in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac until Congress approves a housing-finance overhaul.

Corker has won his party’s support to fast-track his legislation prohibiting Treasury from selling or liquidating preferred shares in the U.S-owned mortgage companies, a step that could see it passed without debate, according to a Senate aide who request asked not to be named. The effort faces a stumbling block in the form of a hold on the bill placed by Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, which would prevent a vote by the full Senate.