Barney Frank: “I am going to propose an amendment later on that we have a tenants' referendum on these things. I do not doubt the…”

“I am going to propose an amendment later on that we have a tenants' referendum on these things. I do not doubt the sincerity of my colleagues in insisting that the work requirement and the self-sufficiency contract are really what the tenants want. They should want the tenants then to have a referendum on this because that would show how much they want it. And instead of this extraordinarily complicated seven-page scheme, why not simply say to the housing authorities: You can do flat rent if you want. You can do per unit rent. You can do a rent tied to income. The only thing you cannot do is go above 30 percent. That is what this amendment says.”