Pelosi and her leadership team are now engaged in aggressive whipping regarding the extension of the moratorium. They are struggling to win over an established group of holdouts, which includes moderates who believe the extension should not be extended beyond Sept. 30. Many Democrats in the caucus believe it is pointless to force a vote, when the Senate is unlikely be able win 10 Republican votes.According to sources familiar with the discussions, Democrats were still short of 20 votes by Friday morning. Their patience was wearing thin. There were frustrations within the caucus over sticking around Washington and not having a timetable to vote.Pelosi basically said that the Biden administration had to extend the eviction moratorium by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when Pelosi was asked about it Friday.Pelosi stated, "We're going to need to find a solution." "I believe that the CDC can."Friday's renewed appeal follows Maxine Waters, the House Financial Services Chair (D-Calif.), whose furious request for Thursday night saw her urging Democrats to pass the bill to the floor. This was after a heated conversation between Waters and Pelosi. Pelosi wrote an emotional note to her colleagues on Thursday night, invoking the Gospel of Matthew as a reminder of the need to provide shelter for those who are in most dire need.Pelosi wrote that in the last 24 hours, a challenge has fallen upon the Congress as millions of Covid-affected renter families are facing eviction.This task became more difficult on Friday morning as the already tight margin of Pelosis was reduced by one vote due to Republicans adding Jake Ellzey, the winner in Tuesday's special election in Texas, to their conference.Waters and other bill backers were not going to compromise on the extension's length as they insist that the moratorium continue through the end.The supporters of the legislation were losing faith that the bill would go to a vote before members leave town. One housing activist warned that a decision not to even vote would be disastrous for tenants who feel abandoned.In the meantime, landlords and industry associations rallied swiftly to oppose this bill.14 industry associations representing developers, property owners, and mortgage lenders sent a letter late Thursday night to legislators requesting that they end federal restrictions on property operation nationwide and focus instead on increasing rental aid distribution.The National Association of Realtors led groups wrote that the moratorium unfairly shifts economic hardships onto the backs of housing provider who have put their financial futures at risk to provide housing for renters across the nation.They wrote that the ban was especially hard for mom-and-pop landlords, who provide 40% of country's rental units. They continue to pay taxes, mortgages, insurance and keep their properties safe for tenants with lower or no rental income.Democrats have been faced with the eviction moratorium issue at a time tensions were already high in the House. Members of Congress confronted each other in hallways, and got into shouting matches during hearings amid frustrations about Jan. 6's investigation and renewed mask mandate.When asked Thursday night whether Democrats had enough votes to extend the moratorium by the House Majority Leader StenyHoyer (D-Md.), answered that they did not have enough votes. He laughed and said, "You're just an analytical genius."Hoyer was asked if Democrats would consider a shorter extension such as one that runs through September. Hoyer replied: "There's going be a lot talk and we will see. We are talking about it."
