Federal Housing Policy in Reagan Administration

Upon entering office, President Reagan proposed a fundamental shift in federal housing policy, the ultimate intent of which was to eliminate a federal role in the supply of housing (Congressional Quarterly, 1986). As a consequence, he refused to approve any legislation which created new federal housing programs, or increased funding for existing federal housing programs (Congressional Quarterly, 1988). In fact, in most instances, he refused to sign into law any housing legislation which did not either reduce federal housing funding, or, in some way, limit the scope of federal activity in the provision of housing. Although both houses of Congress were able to pass bills expanding federal funding for housing with large majorities (even in the Republican controlled Senate during the 19811982 time period), the Senate was never able to override a Reagan veto of a housing bill (even after the Republicans lost their majority position in that house).

It was not until 1987 that President Reagan finally agreed to sign a bill which included some modest funding increases for federal housing programs in the 1988 and 1989 fiscal years (Congressional Q