The American Consumer Institute today denounced the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against rental housing software provider, RealPage Inc. Steve Pociask, president of ACI issued the following statement on the actions that merely divert attention away from past administration policy failures:
“Inflation is still one of the nation’s foremost concerns, and once again the DOJ and the administration miss the mark on issues that matter most to consumers. The nation is experiencing a deep housing deficit and needs supply-side solutions that will help to curtail price growth. The DOJ lawsuit against tools that assess rental housing market values will do nothing to that end. The latest action is a distraction from necessary measures that can support more options for housing.
To make matters worse, the DOJ’s actions could present an attempt by the agency to extend the bounds of its powers surrounding the provision of market assessment tools. Consequently, this would discourage development and the use of existing technologies that make our economies more efficient by maximizing utility among consumers and companies offering products.
Given the lawsuit was introduced today, we are currently examining the validity of these claims in the complaint presented by the DOJ, but basing this lawsuit on history leaves us skeptical that their reasoning will be fair. Consumer protection and a well-functioning market is important, but this administration seems to be more focused on pushing an ideological agenda rather than one based in law or legal theory.
We strongly urge the DOJ to reconsider this deeply flawed course of action, and we remain steadfast in its support for the nations’ consumers by opposing unwarranted endeavors like this latest lawsuit by the DOJ.”