Tim Scott

WASHINGTON —Signature legislation pushed by South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott to address the nation’s housing crisis came to an abrupt stop June 24 when President Donald Trump refused to sign the bipartisan measure into law and cancelled the bill’s public ceremony.

Instead, Trump stunned most of Washington when he said he would not endorse the measure until Congress passes a law that would impose new restrictions on voter identification and mail-in voting, known as the Save America Act.

A Trump-shaped roadblock

Trump’s roadblock came as a strong majority of both houses of Congress stood behind the housing bill. Scott had promoted the measure multiple times in recent days as a positive step for Americans looking to become homeowners.

The South Carolina Republican issued a triumphant statement June 23 after Congress sent the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to Trump's desk, calling it “a major win for families working toward the American Dream.”

Scott’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment June 24.

Trump called the legislation "of minor importance" and canceled a planned bill signing ceremony inside the Capitol’s Statuary Hall as he turned his attention to the voting measure.

What’s in the housing bill?

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act represents one of the broadest housing overhauls to reach Congress in years. It combines dozens of housing proposals aimed at increasing supply, lowering costs and reducing regulatory barriers to construction.

The sprawling package also includes measures aimed at curbing the influence of large institutional investors in the single-family housing market and giving local governments more control over housing policy.

The bill passed both chambers with broad bipartisan support.

The Senate approved it 85-5 on June 22, though U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., did not vote.

After the bill's overwhelming 358-32 passage in the House the following day, Scott issued a statement celebrating Congress sending the proposal to Trump.

“I know the power of a safe place to call home because I watched my mother work hard to make that dream possible for our family in North Charleston,” he said in a written statement. “The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will help more Americans put down roots, build a better future, and find not just a house, but a home, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law.”

Cracks in the SC delegation

But the lopsided House vote masked divisions within South Carolina's Republican delegation.

While Scott championed the legislation as the Republican chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill, and Sheri Biggs, R-Anderson, were among the 32 House Republicans who voted against it.

In a social media post after Trump's announcement, Norman defended his opposition, describing the measure as "Elizabeth Warren's housing package."

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the ranking member on the Senate Banking Committee, worked closely with Scott on the legislation. Scott is GOP chairman of the Banking Committee.

"It wasn't conservative enough,” Norman said, adding that it “added more Washington involvement, and failed to address the spending crisis."

Biggs' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump said the housing bill "pales in comparison" to the elections overhaul bill.

"Get the bad Republicans to approve it or, better yet, Terminate the Filibuster and approve it, AND EVERYTHING ELSE REPUBLICANS HAVE EVER DREAMED OF," he said.

The fallout from Trump’s decision was visible inside the Capitol.

Reporters and guests had already been gathering inside the Capitol Visitor Center when Trump suddenly canceled the event. After Trump’s announcement, workers removed the presidential seal from the podium and began breaking down the stage where he had been expected to sign the bill.