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Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said Wednesday that he had no qualms about seeking the arrests of 15 protesters a day earlier because they refused to conduct their demonstration in a civil manner.
Those arrested in Frank’s office were among 52 people from the advocacy group ADAPT to be detained by U.S. Capitol Police on Tuesday for a series of protests over Section 8 housing vouchers that have yet to be paid for by this Congress.
Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said he would not tolerate the tactics employed by members of the group, who staged a sit-in in his office and refused to leave.
“When I heard that they had stormed into the office and occupied it, I went in and told them that was not an acceptable way of doing business and I told them to leave and if they didn’t leave, I would have the police remove them,” Frank said. “They wouldn’t leave, so I asked the police to remove them. I think that it’s undemocratic, these kind of tactics, and I won’t be influenced by them.”
Others were arrested at the offices of Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) — the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.
Police charged the 52 demonstrators with unlawful assembly after issuing verbal warnings that they would be taken into custody. They also charged 11 members on Monday for protesting outside Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign office.
The group is holding demonstrations on Capitol Hill this week to publicize its housing platform, which focuses on obtaining 500 housing vouchers for low-income people with disabilities wanting to transition from nursing homes to independent living situations.
“Congress just bailed out the middle class,” said Randy Alexander, an organizer with ADAPT, referring to the stimulus package rebates. “It’s time that lower-income families and individuals get some assistance.”
Frank, who has met three times with representatives from ADAPT, said Wednesday that the group shouldn’t be complaining to him. He supported the vouchers in authorizing legislation that has passed the House. The problem is that the vouchers must be paid for, which is done through the Appropriations Committee, chaired by Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.).
Democrats have signaled that they are unlikely to pass most appropriations bills for the next fiscal year until after President Bush leaves the White House.
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