Legislator on tax committee faces personal financial problems

The republican conservative who’s chairman of the Iowa House Ways and Means tax-writing committee has some money problems of his own. Representative Jamie Van Fossen of Davenport is facing foreclosure on his house. Problems for the four-term legislator apparently started when his wife lost her job and the couple has missed several mortgage payments. Van Fossen says the sale of the mortgage company complicated matters, but he says the loan’s being restructured and he won’t lose his house. A spokesman for the mortgage company says the foreclosure is on hold, but not yet dismissed.