Senator Barrasso Says Wyoming Families Don’t Need D.C. Driving Up Home Prices
Wyoming families already cannot find a home that costs less than a used snowcat, and that is before the feds step in with another round of big ideas that only make construction more expensive. So when Washington recently decided that all HUD and USDA financed homes must follow the very pricey 2021 energy code, Senator John Barrasso made it clear that Wyoming is not signing up for that experiment.
Barrasso introduced the HOUSE Act, a bill aimed at ripping out what he calls the Green New Deal style housing mandates that federal agencies quietly approved earlier this year. The new rules would force builders to meet updated efficiency codes that could add up to thirty one thousand dollars to the price of a new home, which in Wyoming is the point where everyone politely says no thank you and goes back to looking at listings in Idaho.
What Barrasso Wants To Do
The bill would:
• Repeal the HUD and USDA decision that forces all new federally financed homes to meet the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code
• Restore the far less expensive 2009 code that builders already use
• Stop federal agencies from layering on new construction rules that push starter homes into luxury home territory
Republicans backing the bill point out that HUDs own analysis shows the new mandate could reduce FHA construction, which is exactly the opposite of what anyone trying to buy a home in Wyoming needs right now.
Why It Matters In A State That Actually Needs Housing
Jackson is already in a permanent housing crisis where an old shed in Wilson goes for more than a beach house in the Carolinas. So when Washington decides that homes need to meet an efficiency standard that could take ninety years to pay off, it is hard not to laugh. Or cry. Or both.
Barrasso argues that the mandates price out the very families they claim to help, and he is not wrong. At this point, the only people who could afford these new builds are billionaires who buy a house here and show up for eight days a year.
The Political Theater
Barrasso has a long list of Republican cosponsors and Rep Andy Biggs is running the companion bill in the House. Supporters say the legislation is a necessary course correction before federal energy rules turn affordable housing into a ghost story. Critics will insist that long term energy savings matter more than upfront costs, which is a lovely thought until you realize most people cannot even get past the upfront costs.
Wyoming keeps begging for more housing and Washington keeps finding ways to make it more expensive. Barrasso is trying to slam the brakes before the feds turn the entire starter home market into a museum exhibit titled Things Regular People Used To Afford.
If the HOUSE Act passes it will not magically solve our housing crisis but it might stop Washington from accidentally making it worse which at this point counts as progress.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
