Political Quotes

“this is at the very least a sensitive amendment. I think the question is not whether or not we support pets. The question is: Should we pass a new Federal law that mandates an extension and expansion of existing law that pets be allowed in all subsidized housing? Currently the law allows pets for individuals that are senior citizens and individuals that are disabled citizens, and the bill before us expands that to every renter in every subsidized housing. I think the question before us is should the Federal Government pass a law making it less attractive for local landlords to participate in housing programs for low income to the extent that our mandates under Federal law limit the number of people willing to pursue our goal of providing affordable housing for individuals. Again, I would remind my colleagues that the bill before us expands current law tenfold. My proposed amendment, in effect, continues the existing law that pets be allowed for senior citizens and for the disabled. It actually expands the number of seniors and disabled that would be allowed to have pets. I am suggesting to my colleagues that we should not so drastically expand present law with strong arm mandates of Federal Government. Applying so many regulations and so many rules, discourage many local landlords from participating in a program to provide low-income housing. We acknowledge that it is advisable to allow pet ownership in housing projects, but that decision deserves local input.”