3 Arizona Republicans, including 2 running for governor, vote against bipartisan housing bill

Three Arizona Republicans, including two who want to be the state’s next governor, voted against a bipartisan congressional bill that aims to reduce housing costs.

President Donald Trump was expected to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on Wednesday. However, he abruptly called off the signing event and said he won’t approve the housing bill until Congress passes stalled voting legislation he considers essential but Democratic lawmakers say would be a form of voter suppression.

“Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency,” Trump announced Wednesday on his Truth Social account.

Housing bill passed both chambers of Congress with wide margins

Trump derailed months of bipartisan negotiations a day after the House passed the housing bill in a 358-32 vote. The Senate passed the legislation Monday by an 85-5 margin.

Arizona Republican Reps. Andy Biggs, David Schweikert and Eli Crane were among the no votes in the House. Biggs and Schweikert are running for governor this year, while Crane is seeking reelection in the 2nd Congressional District.

Arizona Republican Reps. Juan Ciscomani and Abe Hamadeh voted yes, while GOP Rep. Paul Gosar did not vote. All of the state’s Democratic members of Congress voted yes.

“Families across Arizona are working hard, but owning a home is still out of reach,” Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) said in a statement before Trump’s announcement. “This bipartisan bill will build more homes, lower costs and create more opportunities to achieve the American dream. I’m proud to see this effort cross the finish line.”

What is in housing bill that 3 Arizona Republicans voted against?

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is one of the most sweeping efforts in decades to increase the supply of housing and bring down prices.

It would reduce federal regulations, streamline environmental reviews, speed up the construction process and curb the influence of corporate landlords by limiting their ability to purchase single-family homes.

“I hear from families every day who are being priced out of their neighborhoods and struggling to afford a home. This bill, which will soon become a law, is an important step towards expanding access to affordable housing for those in my district in Arizona and across the country,” Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Arizona) said in a statement before Trump put the bill in limbo.

The legislation would expand financing, encourage the development of “innovative housing” like modular homes, require new renter protections and enhance programs that aim to end homelessness.

It would also offer funding to local governments that build more housing, including Community Development Block Grant money to places exceeding the median rate of homebuilding. It would provide new dollars for communities to turn abandoned infrastructure into housing, and includes a framework for communities that want to reform outdated zoning regulations, which often limit larger housing developments.

In addition, the bill would raise limits on the number of public housing units that can receive financing for renovations and codify a recovery program to help expedite funds to communities rebuilding after disaster.

How Arizonan Congress members voted on 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

• Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D): Yes
• Rep. Andy Biggs (R): No
• Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R): Yes
• Rep. Eli Crane (R): No
• Rep. Paul Gosar (R): Did not vote
• Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D): Yes
• Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R): Yes
• Rep. David Schweikert (R): No
• Rep. Greg Stanton (D): Yes
• Sen. Ruben Gallego (D): Yes
• Sen. Mark Kelly (D): Yes

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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