Ever since Gov. Tom Wolf declared the COVID-19 public health emergency in March, Republican legislative leaders have complained that he has exceeded his authority under the state’s constitution and laws — even though the state Supreme Court disagreed.

Now, the governor himself has decided not to extend the emergency order’s ban on evictions and foreclosures through the end of the year, saying that he lacks the legal authority to do so.

Incredibly, after complaining for months about Wolf’s supposed abuse of power, House Republicans condemned the governor for asking them to extend the eviction and foreclosure moratorium.

“Gov. Wolf has ignored the law and acted by fiat for the last six months. It is curious now that he is searching for the limits of his authority as an excuse to pass the buck to the General Assembly over the crisis he created for both property owners and renters,” spokesman Jason Gottesman said.

Such sophistry would warrant a shrug during normal operations in the state Capitol. Amid a crisis in which an estimated 400,000 Pennsylvanians could face eviction as of Tuesday due to the lapsed moratorium, it is appalling.

The moratorium’s expiration was not one of the state government’s many secrets. As Senate Democratic Minority Leader Jay Costa noted, the Legislature has wasted the last 26 days in which it could have extended the moratorium.

An eviction wave isn’t going to help renters or landlords. Wolf called on the Legislature to help both.

“The General Assembly must act to fix these problems immediately to provide meaningful assistance to this vital sector of the economy and prevent the displacement of Pennsylvanians as we continue to fight the COVID-19 virus,” he said. “The Legislature should raise the $750 a month payment to at least 130% of HUD limits which would actually assist landlords in higher cost areas, lead to greater participation in the program and increase the number of tenants assisted.”

So, Wolf passed not only the buck but a useful recommendation. Unfortunately, too many lawmakers would prefer that the governor do what they have done for hard-pressed working people during the worst economic crisis of our time — nothing.

— Republican & Herald,