It's a push that walks a tightrope, since it is expected to help boost the continuing economic recovery immediately but risk opening up the shaky lending that led to the housing crash. Obama's plan would provide for more lending for individuals such as young people buying their first homes, as well as people whose credit has been damaged by the recession.

More details from Goldfarb:

[A]dministration officials say they are working to get banks to lend to a wider range of borrowers by taking advantage of taxpayer-backed programs — including those offered by the Federal Housing Administration — that insure home loans against default.