[Mb-civic] NYTimes.com Article: Mutiny in the House

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Mutiny in the House

August 2, 2004
 


 

After a stretch of bad news for the millions of Americans
trying to find decent affordable housing, there are finally
signs of progress. First, lawmakers rejected the Bush
administration's attempt to shortchange Section 8, the
housing subsidy program for the poor. Now, there is a
procedural mutiny against Republican leaders in the House
who have kept a bill that addresses the housing crisis
bottled up in committee - even though it has more than 200
co-sponsors. That could conceivably force the measure to
the floor for a debate and vote. 

The bill as originally introduced would create a national
housing trust fund by redirecting a small portion of the
profits earned every year by the Federal Housing
Administration's mortgage insurance fund. At the moment,
those profits can be spent on anything. But given the
housing shortage, it makes perfect sense to plow money
earned on housing back into the same area. 

Modeled on similar trust funds that have been successful at
the state and local levels, the national fund would be used
to build, rehabilitate and preserve 1.5 million affordable
apartments. Tired of waiting for a vote, House supporters
have filed a discharge petition that, if signed by a
majority, could move the bill to the floor. 

This is the second housing backlash in Congress in recent
days. The first incident came last month, when
appropriators added more money to Section 8 than the White
House wanted. Given the extent of the crisis and the
growing complaints from governors and local officials, this
issue deserves attention in the fall campaign. The House
leadership can expect more resistance as time goes on. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/02/opinion/02mon2.html?ex=1092467027&ei=1&en=272f2c2f07834f97


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