Trump calls landmark housing bill 'a big yawn' and 'so unimportant'
By: Joey Garrison (USA TODAY)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said he hasn't decided whether he will sign a bipartisan housing bill, dismissing the landmark affordable housing legislation as "a big yawn" and "so unimportant" compared to an unrelated bill he supports to overhaul voting in elections.
Trump told reporters on Monday, June 29 that he won't make a decision on The 21st Century Road to Housing Act until it arrives on his desk.
The president abruptly canceled a signing ceremony last week for the housing bill and said he won't sign it until Congress passes the SAVE America Act ‒ a stalled bill he backs that would require photo identification and proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections and prohibit universal mail-in voting across the country.
"It hasn't been sent to me yet. It's coming, I understand. And then I'll make a de‒," Trump said. "Here's what I would like to say. Much more than a bill that ‒ big deal, it's a yawn. Some people say it's wonderful. To me, compared to the SAVE America Act, just about everything is a big yawn."
The housing bill is the first major piece of legislation that passed Congress in more than three decades to address the nation's affordable housing crisis. In response to voters' increasing concerns about the rising cost of living, the bill cleared both chambers in June by overwhelming margins with strong bipartisan support, a 358-32 tally in the House and an 85-5 margin in the Senate.
House Speaker Mike Johnson officially transmitted the bill to Trump's desk on Monday, June 29, initiating a 10-day window for the president to either sign the legislation, veto it or allow it to become law automatically by doing neither.
Johnson told USA TODAY he spoke to Trump about it Monday during a two-hour meeting at the White House and was confident the legislation will be enacted, with or without his signature.
The wide-ranging bill includes provisions aimed at spurring more manufactured housing, loosening regulations over small-dollar mortgages and increasing the cap that restricts how much banks can invest for projects that address low- and middle-income housing.
The legislation overhauls several federal housing programs and streamlines environmental review processes for housing. It also seeks to limit large investors - those with at least 350 properties - from buying homes.
The housing bill gives Republicans an opportunity for a much-needed political win on affordability ahead of the November elections as polls show about one-third of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the economy.
But Trump, who made his fortunes in a real estate career that spanned decades, raised concerns about the legislation, stressing that it received support from Democrats in addition to Republicans.
"It's very bipartisan. That means the Democrats like it. I think it's maybe even ‒ it's probably maybe more that way to getting things that I wouldn't necessarily agree to," Trump said. "Nobody knows more about housing in the history of the presidency. Nobody did well like me in housing. I made a lot of money with housing. But when I look at that bill, it's a bill. But when I look at the 'SAVE America Act,' it's about saving America."
Trump's SAVE America Act remains stalled in Congress despite the president repeatedly urging Senate Republicans to abolish the filibuster, the Senate's 60-vote threshold, to allow Republicans to pass the legislation with a simple majority.
It's unclear whether the proposal even has support of 50 senators for an elimination of the filibuster to matter.
All Senate Democrats have expressed opposition to the SAVE America Act. In addition, four Republicans ‒ Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina ‒ each voted against a motion in June to add the legislation to Republicans' $70 billion budget package.
"How do you vote against 'Save America?'" Trump said. "How do you vote against voter identification or proof of citizenship? The only people that would vote against that are people that are going to cheat in the next election."
Contributing: USA TODAY's Francesca Chambersand Zach Schermele
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Welcome to MAGA world.
he probably hasn't figured out a way for him, uday, qusay, and twatvanka to cash in on it yet ...
He's got more important things to think about... like taking away Americans' right to vote.
Why can't fucking MAGA see that?
He doesn't care if the average Joe can afford a house. He's never known want. Everyday average Americans struggle to put food on the table, clothes on their kids's backs and a roof over their head.
He's never had to worry about any of that. Fucking pig was born with a silver spoon both in his mouth and up his ass
That only thing that matters to MAGAs is what their Dear Leader says.
I read a good description of a cult and why they are like this. But now I can't remember where I read it or I would bring it here
Anyway...the STOOPID! IT BURNS!!!!!!!
He should be excited - maybe he could go back into the slum lord business like his son in law.
The word from the country's leading expert on scams.