As Twitchy reported early this month, President Biden said that he’d consulted with legal scholars about extending the eviction moratorium and the bulk of them informed him it would be unconstitutional. He managed to find a couple sympathetic with his views, thought, and decided to go ahead and extend it anyway so that more money could go out while the moratorium worked its way through the courts.
“President Biden shows he’s ready to make drastic moves in the Covid-19 fight — even if he’s not sure they’re legal,” reported CNN. And the Washington Post even admitted that Biden’s defense was, “Maybe it’s illegal, but it’s worth it.”
It’s still not legal, but White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, anxious to talk about anything but Afghanistan, said that Attorney General Merrick Garland had called on the entire legal community to take action to prevent any “unnecessary” evictions during this health crisis.
PSAKI: "Today, Attorney General Merrick Garland is calling on the entire legal community to take immediate action to help prevent unnecessary evictions" during pandemic. pic.twitter.com/5I9LtepITQ
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 30, 2021
In other words, there are plenty in the legal community willing to step up to support something that’s illegal. Maybe Congress should have passed a law or something.
Can I skip a few months? You know, due to Covid.
— Kelley (@16Krock22) August 30, 2021
What are we going to do for the landlords?
— Gary Casper (@gcasp) August 30, 2021
And property owners/managers are going to get another stimulus check or what? Other people need to pay bills and eat, too, Jen & Joe.
— Eric Matulka (@ematulka) August 30, 2021
Pay the landlords first
— Kerry Andrews (@ksandrews) August 30, 2021
So…when is Congress going to do something?
Or is that still not an option for some reason even though the courts said it's literally the only option.
— Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Person (@primadonna12) August 30, 2021
Umm didn't the SCOUTUS just rule on this??
— ctrl alt del 💥 (@0neMB) August 30, 2021
The Supreme Court already ruled on this. Unless they don’t count anymore?
— Average Joe (@JoeNJ65) August 30, 2021
Holy mother of dragons. See: Supreme Court ruling. Last week.
— KRenner (@KRenner2) August 30, 2021
It’s unconstitutional and has been struck down twice by the Supreme Court.
— Cig (@willFightUNaked) August 30, 2021
But law students are still being enlisted to represent renters who aren’t paying rent.
That’s private property!!!
— 🔥 Bean 🔥 (@BeanFromPA) August 30, 2021
Free legal advice to avoid an unnecessary eviction: Pay your rent
— JgaltTweets (@JgaltTweets) August 30, 2021
Elections have consequences. So does the Supreme Court and their rulings. If renters need help put together a program that stops penalizing landlords.
— Sexyeone (@sexyeone) August 30, 2021
So do landlords still have to pay property tax?
— Weenie Hut Jr’s (@WeenieHutJrs7) August 30, 2021
Can we have a moratorium on mortgage payments as well?
— SlowDeath718 (@SlowDeath718) August 30, 2021
Could someone explain what an “unnecessary eviction” is
— Wes (@Racer12WH) August 30, 2021
What is an unnecessary eviction?
I was never evicted as long as I paid my rent
— Pepper Brooks (@AlteredAnglePB) August 30, 2021
Who determines if the eviction is “unnecessary”? Let the landlords decide.
— Cari Price 🇺🇸 ❤️🤍💙 (@CariPriceRE) August 30, 2021
If you aren’t paying rent, it’s necessary.
— Mr.Ridiculous (@marcusjason11) August 30, 2021
1. "unnecessary" is just a weasel-word you could drive a truck through, and
2. The AG can't do a damn thing to stop people from using state landlord/tenant statutes from being enforced by state courts.— Nuclear Ironman 🏊♂️🚴♂️🏃♂️🏅 (@NuclearHerbs) August 30, 2021
At what point does personal responsibility come due? No one can work out an arrangement with what money they have?
— Troy Elbert (@Elbert68) August 30, 2021
I wonder if the WH will be singing the same tune when 2021 tax returns start rolling in from landlords showing HUGE losses on all of their rental properties.
— vammirato (@vammirato) August 30, 2021
They’ve had months to prepare for this. Were they thinking free rent would become policy?
— ℂ𝕣𝕪𝕡𝕥𝕠𝕋𝕒𝕡𝕒𝕤 (@StripperFundASM) August 30, 2021
If people pay their rent they won’t be evicted.
— George Regnery (@georgeregnery) August 30, 2021
How about tenants taking action and accepting one of the numerous available jobs out there.
— Zuko (@zuko7381) August 30, 2021
I can’t drive one mile with out seeing 5 plus now hiring signs. I worked two jobs this last year because pay was so good for a second job. I had a rental and tenants lost jobs and found others. Enough
— David Houtz (@david_houtz) August 30, 2021
I have an idea. With all those resources you just named why don't you have them all chip in and pay the rent for all who can't (won't) to the property owners who are getting screwed!
— Paul (@pducca) August 30, 2021
Imagine if they mobilized all this effort into getting the 90% of federal rental assistance that is just sitting there paid out instead?
— HRH The King of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperor (@boyfollower1) August 30, 2021
Imagine.
PSAKI: "If Congress passed a bill to extend the eviction moratorium the President would sign it"
Psaki passes on an opportunity to remind everyone that states are still sitting on about 90% of the rental aid Congress has passed over the last 18 months
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) August 30, 2021
Her eyes say everything. There’s nothing there.
— Adam 🟢⚪️ (@FGR_Adam) August 30, 2021
Biden just has so many disasters to juggle he needs Psaki and Garland to help sort them out.
Related:
Muh norms: After careful consideration, WaPo analysis finds that Joe Biden’s eviction moratorium extension is ‘illegal, but it’s still worth it’ https://t.co/llQ6kdi4gT
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 4, 2021
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