Ballad of HB 2004 (Democratic Landlord Senators of Salem)

After decades of inaction, once the problem got too great
Certain steps were taken by the leaders of the state
Then other steps were taken in the bill’s final dash
That involved the landlord lobby giving away cash
What happened next – the bill was then eviscerated
With all the useful parts effectively obliterated
Grease the wheels of justice til there’s no justice anymore
It’s a bipartisan consensus called class war

Democratic landlord senators of Salem
You are such a sorry lot to see
Democratic landlord senators of Salem
You look just like Republicans to me

In its early stages the bill talked of rent control
But then the real estate developers played their normal role
So now the landlords hold the leashes and the senators wear collars
Once they were bought off with lots and lots of dollars

Oh but you talk a different line – you care about constituents
All those bribes are just free speech – they really have no influence
You’re a liberal, you say – look at your heart, it bleeds
You care about all kinds of things – just not the people’s basic needs