Housing Industry Lobby Frustrated By Senate Delay

It's not just Democrats who are frustrated by Republican obstruction of the Senate housing bill.

Some K Street groups pushing for the legislation are also bemoaning the delay - perhaps none more than the National Association of Homebuilders.

"Our members' level of frustration is very high," the group's CEO Jerry Howard said of the news that the Senate will not pass its housing bill before the July 4th recess.

The Republicans whose objections are holding up the bill are more concerned about playing politics "than getting the people's business done," he said. "That's very, very disappointing and frustrating." 

The home builders fought back Thursday, targeting two of the main causes of delay: Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who is objecting to proceeding because he believes senators need more time to consider the bill, and Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), who is demanding a vote on his renewable energy tax package.

Home builders from South Carolina got on a conference call with DeMint, while Howard and a Nevada-based home builder had a face-to-face visit with Ensign, both groups stressing the desperate economic situation for their members and urging the lawmakers to let the Senate vote.

"These architects of delay are costing the American people their homes and their livelihoods," Howard said.
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