Byline: S.A. Miller, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The House today approved the Democrats' plan to stanch home foreclosures with government-backed mortgage deals and buyouts of derelict homes, ignoring a Bush administration threat to veto what critics dub a bailout scheme.

The package of legislation passed in near party-line votes after heated debate in which Democrats accused opponents of mean-spirited disregard for struggling families and Republicans decried the bill for saddling taxpayers with other people's errant debts.

The votes fell short of a veto-proof majority, and the legislation faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.

Rep. David Wu, Oregon Democrat, compared ...