Rep. Peter Welch said the provision, one of two tax breaks totaling an estimated $21 billion in the legislation, reflects a renewed focus in Washington on middle-class citizens suffering from the recession. "Congress is starting to focus on Main Street rather than Wall Street, and that time is overdue ... When you've got homebuilders looking for work and young people trying to get housing, this is part of the stimulus that affects Main Street." Some Vermont lenders credit the tax incentives with buoying sales in what had been a relatively stagnant housing market. Full Article at Barre Montpelier Times-Argus