http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-18/u-s-congress-votes-to-raise-top-limit-for-government-insured-mortgages.html

"The U.S. housing industry has scored a victory with House and Senate votes to raise the size of mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration to $729,750..."

You can just imagine the fight if mortgage deduction is touched. Housing looks to be the new sacred cow..