It's a debate in Frankfurt centered around property rights and housing discrimination.

Yesterday, Kentucky senators endorsed a plan to void local rules on accepting low income housing vouchers like Section eight.

House Bill 18 prohibits local governments from requiring landlords to accept federal housing assistance vouchers from tenants as rent payment.

Democrats denounce it as wrong and discriminatory.

What we're doing today, and let's be clear, is we are discriminating against poor people.

As I've said before, I think the best statement may we talk about this two weeks ago was not by me, but by the senator from Jefferson 26, where she talked about how we treat wealthy parents who want to cosign for their children differently when we treat those who want to see federal government subsidies.

The main argument that we hear about this bill time and time again is that it requires landlords to take below market rent.

And you heard the senator from FE 13 say it, and I will say it again.

That is simply not true.

That is not how these voucher programs work.

HUD regulations explicitly say that landlords can employ the same legal screening criteria they could use for any applicant when reviewing prospective tenants.

They can ask about previous landlords and seek references.

They can use their own application.

They can use their own standard lease.

They can perform credit checks on prospective tenants.

They can said.

Last week, the Lexington Fayette County Urban Council voted to impose a source of discrimination ban as a way to address affordable housing law.

Have already has such an ordinance.

Those against such local action say federal housing programs bogged down landlords with rolls and red tape that can devalue property.

We got to remember whose property we're talking about.

This is not the city of Louisville's property.

This is not the city of Lexington's property.

This is the landlord's property.

This is property that they've bought and they've paid for.

And they are in the best position to know how to use that property.

They are in the best position to know what types of federal programs to accept or not accept.

And they've got skin in the game because they are making the monthly mortgage payment.

A revised House Bill 18 now includes language with a Senate measure.

It passed the Senate yesterday by 25 to 11.

It's now back in the House while waiting for final approval before being sent on to the governor's desk.