Mutiny in the House

The New York Times

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.