Further, he said, keeping the GSEs in a conservatorship designed by emergency legislation is not the best way to operate over the long term and continued uncertainty about their future will continue to impede access to credit. Thus comprehensive housing finance reform remains a top Administration priority. Stegman said the President has outlined his objectives for that reform ; require private capital to play the dominant role in providing mortgage credit; ensure creditworthy borrowers have broad access to safe and responsible mortgages; put in place strong safeguards to protect taxpayers; and help ensure access to affordable rental options for middle class families and those who are working toward joining the middle class. The following are priorities. A good first step toward this would be to reduce the price gap between Freddie Mac's securities and Fannie Mae's by linking them. This would reduce the cost to taxpayers and improve liquidity in the TBA market.