Carson endorses government role for housing

Ben Carson Thursday drew on his personal experiences to endorse a government role in housing and social services in the confirmation hearing for his nomination to be secretary of Housing and Urban Development, but he also expressed interest in cutting regulations to make building housing cheaper.

“I do believe that government can play a very important role” in aiding the poor, the former neurosurgeon said in an ad-libbed opening statement that centered on his personal experiences with poverty.