California Senate passes bill to extend homebuyer loan program to immigrants

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — The California Senate on Tuesday passed a controversial bill that would open access to a state homebuyer loan program to immigrants lacking permanent legal status.

Assembly Bill 1840 — written by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, a Fresno Democrat — augments an existing program that provides loans to first-time homebuyers. A potential homebuyer must meet the requirements of the California Housing Finance Authority in order to access the home purchase assistance fund. Arambula’s bill would ensure someone couldn’t be disqualified because of their immigration status.

The bill passed 23 to 11. It now returns to the Assembly for a final vote before it can reach the governor’s desk.

Many Republicans opposed the bill’s passage.

“Very simply, we can’t afford it,” said state Senator Kelly Seyarto, a Murrieta Republican.

Seyarto pointed to the deficit lawmakers faced with this fiscal year’s budget. He argued that expanding the program will lead to mortgage lenders offering more loans, one issue that led to the 2008 financial meltdown.

State Senator Brian Dahle, a Bieber Republican, also opposed the legislation, pointing to the need to help veterans and other Californians who are here legally.

“We should take care of them before we expand it out,” Dahle said.

State Senator Janet Nguyen, a Huntington Beach Republican, also invoked the state’s veterans. She said many veterans are homeless and living on the streets. Others have jobs but nowhere to live.

Telling senators she formerly worked as a real estate agent, state Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, a Yucaipa Republican, called the bill disrespectful to the immigrants who come legally to the state. It hurts them and it hurts the lower- and middle-income people the housing program is intended to help.

Most Democrats spoke in support of the measure.

State Senator Anna Caballero, a Merced Democrat, said the state will struggle with homelessness for years. This bill wouldn’t solve California’s housing problem.

“This has to do with the first-time homebuyers program,” Caballero said. “All this does is provide an opportunity for you to get in line if you can afford to buy a house.”

State Senator Josh Newman, a Fullerton Democrat, said the bill clarified existing law and eliminates confusion over who is eligible for the program. He also noted that $150,000 is the maximum loan anyone can receive.

Presenting the bill on behalf of Arambula, state Senator Scott Wiener called Tuesday’s debate a collision between Fox News’ anti-immigrant stance and housing policy.

Immigrants haven’t created the state’s housing issues, the San Francisco Democrat said. Instead, the millions of immigrants in California work, pay taxes, have children in school and are members of their communities.

“They are being treated like garbage, and not just by Fox News,” Wiener said. “They should be able to buy a home. They should be allowed to be part of this program.”

The Legislature is in its last week of this year’s session. Bills must pass both houses no later than Saturday to reach the governor.

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and state Senator Catherine Blakespear have identical bills moving through the Legislature. They urged their colleagues in a Tuesday morning gathering on the Capitol steps to pass their legislation, which would rework the state’s plastic-bag ban.

Assembly Bill 2236 is waiting for a vote in the state Senate. Senate Bill 1053 needs to pass the Assembly. If passed, the bills would return to their chamber of origin and need to pass a final vote, approving amendments added in the other house. They would then proceed to the governor.

Both lawmakers shone a light on their bills Tuesday and urged their passage. Behind them stood members of the California Public Interest Research Group Students and a large, inflatable turtle.

Blakespear, an Encinitas Democrat, said plastic bags harm ocean life. Plastic breaks down into smaller components which pollutes water. It’s been found in human bodies.

“Plastic consumption is going up,” Blakespear added, pointing to the need for the bills. “It’s one piece of a much bigger puzzle.”

A plastic-bag ban already exists in California, though it allows thicker plastic bags. It was passed in 2014 and upheld by voters two years later.

Over the past 10 years, the Golden State has seen plastic waste increase by 50%, Blakespear said. The thicker plastic bags, currently allowed, are being discarded rather than being reused as envisioned. The bills would leave paper and canvas bags as alternatives.

Bauer-Kahan, an Orinda Democrat, said Walmart and Target are considered grocers and that the bill would apply to them.

“We will not have plastic at checkout,” Blakespear said. “Politics is the art of possible. You start with what you can do.”