Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Several years ago the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) announced a “Plan for Transformation” which included the relocation of all public housing residents over a ten-year period. The MacArthur Foundation is funding research to help the CHA improve the relocation process; NORC is collecting data from public housing residents to inform relocation improvements.

During the planning phase of the project various groups interested in the improvement process talked about both the benefits and drawbacks of using public housing residents to collect these data. Those in-favor of using public housing residents to collect the data argued that public housing residents are more comfortable talking to other public housing residents and more likely to honestly disclose their experiences. Those not-in-favor of using public housing residents as interviewers argued that public housing residents are angry with the CHA and may influence respondents’ answers.

NORC recruited and hired half of the interviewing staff for this project from within the CHA developments. NORC randomly assigned half of the addresses in each building to CHA resident interviewers and the other half to non-CHA resident interviewers. The paper will describe the interviewer recruiting and hiring process, the interviewer training, and the operational strategies employed during data collection. The paper will also examine and compare the data collected by CHA resident interviewers and non-CHA resident interviewers.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Five decades ago Richard F. Fenno described the job of House appropriator as a unique position that possessed its own set of unique norms of behavior including suppressed partisanship, a focus on consensus, and the goal of manufacturing legislation that would pass the chamber by wide margins. More recently, scholarly research has emphasized the increased influence partisanship has had over activity in the House of Representatives in general and in the appropriations process in specific. This paper argues that members of the House Appropriations Committee now face the daunting task of balancing the often conflicting roles of House appropriator and partisan in their activity involving appropriations legislation. Analyzing roll-call data and floor debate activity on appropriations bills from a sample of congresses over time (the 109th, 104th, 103rd, and 100th), I demonstrate that not only have the norms Fenno observed continued to persist, but the conflict between those norms and increased partisanship have lead to distinct, cross-pressured behavior among House appropriators that significantly impacts the shape of the appropriations process and resultant federal appropriations legislation.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: We explore the role of the FHA in fair housing policy formation and implementation. Equally important, we address the interaction between the FHA and other branches of the federal government in the fair housing policy arena. _x000d__x000d_In the American political system, federal agencies must respond to and implement the policy preferences and directives of the other branches of government. Yet research has shown that federal agencies have substantial discretion in how they formulate and administer their programs. The FHA has long been responsible for insuring mortgages, which has given it a critical role in creating national housing policy. We argue that the president and Congress serve an agenda-setting function for the FHA, while the Supreme Court provides a check on the agency’s exercise of discretion. _x000d__x000d_In terms of policy responsiveness, we look at how long it has taken the FHA to change its policies after alterations have been made by a presidential administration, legislation has been passed by Congress, or a decision has been handed down by the Supreme Court. An attempt will be made to examine elite networking between the branches of government and FHA officials using archival documents.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Prior to 1980, the national governmetn dominated housing policy. This changed dramatically during the 1980s, when the Reagan administration cut programs and funding for low-income housing. Since then, in what has been called the post-federal era of housing, the states have taken the lead in developing low-income housing policy. Although state housing expenditures remain low, in comparison to other policy areas (comprising less than 1 percent of even the most generous state's budget), overall states have been increasing the amount of general revenue devoted to developing low-income housing. More importantly, even without state funding, housing agencies have developed their own programs, utilizing a number of common strategies.
This paper uses in-depth case studies of three state housing agencies and a survey of sixteen more to examine the state agency innovations from 1980 to the present. I believe the findings will be important for our understanding of policy devolution and the growing role of the states in domestic policymaking.

Publication Type: Proceeding
Abstract: This paper examines appointment patterns to the cabinet, EOP, and White House staff since 1961. In general, appointments continue show high levels of prior governmental experience in general. There has been an increased in the percentage with prior experience in the department to which individuals are appointed. Most notable is the increase in the percentage of women and minority appointments to senior-level executive positions.