September 30, 2003Operating under the delusion that alienating Constitution-believingconservatives is a good electoral strategy for them, HouseRepublicans are pushing a new $200 million program to forcetaxpayers to make housing down payments for 40,000 low-incomehombuyers. This money will not be a loan, but a grant.The vote on that legislation, H.R. 1276 will occur tomorrow,Wednesday, October 1, at 10:00 a.m.As actual taxpayers know, lenders require a downpayment to ensurethat the buyer has the fiscal discipline, the resources, and thewillingness to continue to make payments month after month. IfH.R. 1276 is passed, the result will be that, a year from now,40,000 defaulting purchasers...