Democrats are making another attempt to require the forgiveness of principal on delinquent mortgages guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as the White House and lawmakers are in talks to avoid the pending fiscal cliff. This week a group of 18 House Democrats dispatched a letter to President Obama and congressional leaders of both parties urging them to expand assistance to borrowers as part of any tax increase and spending cut resolution package. “Given the clear benefits of providing assistance to underwater borrowers, as well as the significant savings for the American taxpayers, we believe that provisions expanding such assistance should be part of any deal to resolve the fiscal cliff,” the members wrote. “At a minimum, such legislation should require that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer principal reduction loan modifications to borrowers who are net present value positive.”