DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - A State Representative from north Texas wants to change the way the State of Texas administers a program that provides tax credits to developers that build affordable housing.
Rep. Eric Johnson, a Democrat from Dallas, says the current program has been a magnet for corruption.
Last week, former Dallas City Council Member Carolyn Davis entered a plea of "guilty" to federal criminal charges. She admitted to taking bribes to support a developer's application for tax credits for an affordable housing project. That developer has said he will fight the charges against him.
"The affordable housing tax credit has become the mother's milk of political corruption in Dallas," said Rep. Johnson. "It needs to be reformed swiftly and comprehensively. We need affordable housing in Dallas, but not like this. I will be filing a bill this week to combat and hopefully eradicate corruption in the awarding of affordable housing tax credits."
Johnson's proposal will call for removing elected officials from having any influence over which developers receive those tax breaks. "Some elected officials and developers seeking their favor have repeatedly abused their role in the affordable housing tax credit award process," said Johnson. "We saw it again last Friday when a former Dallas City Councilwoman pleaded guilty to taking $40,000 in bribes in exchange for her support of an affordable housing development."
Rep. Johnson says he will file his bill before the end of the week. Johnson is also one of several candidates running for Mayor of Dallas.
