Biden DOJ will defend excluding Puerto Ricans from disability payments

[left-of-center2012]

President Biden on Monday announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will continue to defend a law that excludes Puerto Ricans from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, while calling on Congress to extend eligibility to the U.S. territory's residents.

Biden said the Justice Department will be adhering to its practice of defending the constitutionality of federal law in the legal challenge against a provision in the Social Security Act that excludes Puerto Rico residents from the program, which provides income for low-income citizens with disabilities.

"This provision is inconsistent with my Administration’s policies and values," Biden said in a statement. "However, the Department of Justice has a longstanding practice of defending the constitutionality of federal statutes, regardless of policy preferences. This practice is critical to the Department’s mission of preserving the rule of law. Consistent with this important practice, the Department is defending the constitutionality of the Social Security Act provision in this case."

The president said that the solicitor general's office would be filing a Supreme Court brief Monday arguing in favor of the provision.

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/557166-biden-administration-will-defend-excluding-puerto-ricans-from

[AleksS]

1. I get the nuance, and the thought process,

But trying to expect people to understand consistency and nuance always seems to bite us in the butt.

I hope this isn't another case of that.

[marble falls]

2. What a POS headline. The first paragraph clears up any misunderstanding, though ...

... Biden wants clear laws and no punting them around to provide loopholes for any special interest. He's not a 45 for Pete's sake. He wants Puerto Ricans to be eligible by law not loophole or special provision.

[RegularJam]

3. Statehood. That's the answer.

They are given full protections of neither the 14th amendment or the Bill of Rights, among other things.

[LAS14]

4. I hope people read the post and not just the title. nt

[James48]

5. Simple fix. Statehood.

It’s time.

[marble falls]

6. Statehood.