Barney Frank: “Cities, however, have done that. The fact that a mandate was not imposed by the Federal Government does not invalidate…”

“Cities, however, have done that. The fact that a mandate was not imposed by the Federal Government does not invalidate it in my mind. I believe cities have the right to make these judgments. Independent of this legislation, many cities decided in the democratic process that governs those cities that it was helpful to have municipal employees living there, that it was helpful to promote the interaction, to have the police living there, the teachers living there. It was helpful to have these people who perform those important services living in the neighborhood. This language facilitates that. It is not a general housing aid. It is in facilitation of an important municipal policy that they find useful to have their employees living in the communities. I am for broadening housing aid in general, and I thank the gentleman. I will be glad to be with him when the budget comes up so we can increase these programs and accommodate the increases he wants to make. But this is one with a particular nexus between the city and its employees.”