Posts tagged as:

congress

Kucinich right on arbitration, wrong on courts

July 30, 2009

Dennis Kucinich and his House Domestic Policy Subcommittee just released a report on arbitration abuse in the National Arbitration Forum (PDF). In the report, the subcommittee stated that “[c]onsumer arbitration lacks the safeguards that have been designed into our judicial system by our Constitution, by state and federal statutes, and by centuries of judicial decisions” [...]

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Sun Sentinel shines on AFFIL

June 15, 2009

This is a great week for AFFIL because our friend Denise Richardson devoted an entire column to us at the Florida Sun Sentinel. (Thanks again Denise!) You can see her column here.
Coincidentally, a while back Sam asked me to write a “what AFFIL is up to” blog post, and lucky for me, Denise has [...]

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Credit card companies: they’re finally getting f***ed back

May 29, 2009

Happy Friday!

New Credit Card Laws – watch more funny videos

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Link roundup

May 14, 2009

Time to clean out my Google Reader queue.

How to complain about: credit report errors | The Red Tape Chronicles
Does it make sense to pay “points” upfront to lower your interest rate? Decoding the Mysterious Mortgage Points Game | Alpha Consumer
What’s The New Credit Card Reform Bill All About? | Consumerist
Stop fighting bankruptcy. When bankruptcy is [...]

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Bailout hearings

February 25, 2009

February 25, 2009 | Dilbert.com

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House addresses foreclosure relief tomorrow

February 25, 2009

One of the problems perpetuating the foreclosure crisis is the inability of lenders and borrowers to renegotiate those loans. Lenders don’t want to take care of vacant homes, and many borrowers could stay in their home if those ridiculous adjustable rates were locked into a reasonable fixed rate. Renegotiating those loans means more money to [...]

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Mortgage Cram Downs in Legislative Limbo

February 17, 2009

Mortgage Cram Downs in Legislative Limbo | Change.org

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Is the moment right to bring back a usury cap? (AFFIL Week)

February 13, 2009

Triple-digit interest rates used to be illegal. From Biblical times through the Middle Ages through English colonial law, people realized that the government needed to regulate the inherently unequal relationship between lender and borrower.  One by-gone civilization that didn’t do this was ancient Greece, and they ended up with loads of literal “debt slaves.”  Not [...]

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Senate votes to re-inflate the housing bubble

February 5, 2009

The Senate has approved an addition to the economic stimulus package that would give a $15,000 tax credit to anyone who buys a home within two years of the bill’s passage. The credit only applies to a principal residence, and would have to be repaid if the buyer sells the home within two years..
On the [...]

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Foreclosed and nowhere to go? Stay put

January 30, 2009

So says Ohio congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. Stick it to the vultures until they prove they actually have the right to take your home, which is unlikely for many mortgage loans.
Embedded video from CNN Video

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How a bill becomes a law

October 2, 2008

I received an email yesterday from someone asking me about the law making process. Rather than a long, drawn-out explanation with citations to the US Constitution, congressional rules and parliamentary procedure, I hearkened back to the most basic of lessons.  The video below was my introduction to civics and the impetus to my love (and sometimes derision) of our political system [...]

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Senate Passes Bailout Plan; House May Vote by Friday

October 1, 2008

Senate Passes Bailout Plan; House May Vote by Friday | New York Times

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Bailout bill fails; Dow plunges

September 29, 2008

Bailout bill fails; Dow plunges | CNN

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House passes the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights

September 23, 2008

One down, one to go. The House of Representatives today passed the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights 312-112, a pretty convincing vote of confidence in the bill.
Come on, Senate, get this done!
Confirmation should appear on THOMAS shortly. This report comes by way of Cora Ganzglass, NACA’s Legislative Director.
Previously:

New York Times says Congress should enact the [...]

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Consumer Protection

September 14, 2008

New York Times says Congress should enact the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights. Consumer Protection | NY Times (via Consumer Law & Policy)

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Internet privacy gets Congress’ attention

August 13, 2008

Internet privacy gets Congress’ attention | MinnPost

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Credit madness

August 13, 2008

“The real crisis is on Main Street: It all comes down to how credit card companies have treated consumers far too poorly for far too long. ” Credit madness | Star Tribune

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Consumer Product Safety Bill Passes Congress

August 4, 2008

Consumer Product Safety Bill Passes Congress | Consumer Law & Policy

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Bush signs housing rescue law

July 30, 2008

“President enacts controversial measure that aims to help borrowers, bolster the housing market and provide a fail-safe for Fannie and Freddie.” Bush signs housing rescue law | CNN Money

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Larry Lessig Netroots Nation Keynote: the Bankrupt Congress

July 29, 2008

Larry Lessig, who seeks to Change Congress by pulling out the special interest money that has eroded the public trust to a measly 9%.

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