Friends--feel free to delete this, but in addition to good info on
political funding i think it is also relevant to why it's so hard to get
things done in Congress on the legislation we support.(Disclaimer--no
political endorsement intended--just quoting the article !)
This is an excerpt from a column in our _Dayton Daily News_ today by Robert
Heady (email: [log in to unmask])
PACS show why credit-card reform is slow
"Many readers have asked, 'When will Congress...pass new laws to protect
consumers from credit-card companies that gouge me?' Unfortunately, not
any day soon....Politician are filling their pockets with money from
special interests, especially credit-card issuers, securities firms,
insurance companies, and the real estate industry.
"Don't believe me? Go click on http://www.commoncause.org an independent
consumer advocate organization,,,and see for yourself how much soft money
the political action committees (PACs) have donated to individual
congressional members.....It's the Sale of the Century, as Common Cause
describes it....(they) are using loopholes to get around federal election
laws...that's why the federal government so far hasn't cracked down on
shady credit issuer practices such as phone late-payment fees, usurious
interest rates and shoddy handling of your personal credit reports.
"....Soft money is exploding. In the first half of 1999 the 2 parties
together raked in a total of $53.6 million....tthis amount could grow to
$750 million by 2000, says Common Cause.
"Make sure also to see the FEC's website at http://www.fec.gov, click on
Financial Information about Candidates,Parties,and PACS, then on House and
Senate 2000.
"This is also why the House & Senate have ...pushed a new Bankruptcy
Reform Act which would make it virtually impossible for an ordinary, honest
citizen to wipe out all his debts and get a fresh start.Word is that the
Senate vote ---House passed it overwhelmingly earlier this year--is
temporarily stalled . If the Act ever becomes law the credit industry
stands to gain an estimated 4 Billion from the hides of consumers.
"Presidential candidates John McCain,(R-Ariz.) and ill Bradley (D-NJ) are
aggressively pushing campaign finance reform...they could easily pick up
millions of votes if they'd explain how reform would impact your
credit-card bills--much less the survival of the little guy who's forced
into bankruptcy. You can only change this with your vote. ...if you
discover your senators or congressmen are on the take, you might send them
a note saying:'Smile..you're now on Candid Camera !."
Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 81/70/55
Oxford, Ohio
http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm
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