Help kill that obscene Bankruptcy bill (this only takes 1 minute, I swear)

[moggie12]

I'm reposting a shortened version of an earlier post -- I've since found a website that lets you zap letters off very easily. Here's the link to use to tell your Senators you're against the Bankruptcy bill.
http://ga3.org/campaign/senateindebt

All you've got to do is fill in your e-mail address, your name, and your address -- the message is already done for you. IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE, HONEST!!

For a long-winded explanation of why it's so important to kill this bill, and why it might be possible to do so now, see my earlier post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

A Harvard study showed that 50% of people filing for bankruptcy did so because of medical bills. I think this bill is a complete travesty: Loopholes for the rich remain, while hard-working Americans faced with medical problems or the loss of their job get screwed.

Please take a minute and sign -- and please keep this kicked so others see it. Thanks.......

For background info, here are some links:

Good general background piece:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15399-20...

Info re: Harvard study showing 50% of bankruptcies are due to medical bill/emergencies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9447-200...

NY Times article today talking about big loopholes
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/02/business/02bankrupt.h...

Sen Cornyn's amendment and how it might hurt passage:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64232-20...

[Imalittleteapot]

1. Took less than a minute. Thanks for the quick link. n/t

[Wilms]

2. Liar. It took less than a minute.

Stop making things seem so scary.

:)

And thanks for pointing.

[flyarm]

3. done and i sent out to internet groups of mine!! thx!!!! n/t

[understandinglife]

4. Done & Forwarded. (nt)

"NOT ONE LINE OF SOFTWARE BETWEEN A VOTER AND A VALID ELECTION: NOT ONE, EVER AGAIN"

[Kota]

5. Done thanks.

[xchrom]

6. done

[ohtransplant]

7. Done! n/t

[babylonsister]

8. Done! nt

[annabanana]

9. done...........................n/t

[Stew225]

10. done. I gave myself a doctorate

so it would make a bigger impression. Thanks for sharing this. Frankly, I'm not far from filing.

[moggie12]

17. Well, that's too bad -- hope things work out for you

If you were a multinational corporation, you wouldn't have to worry.

[info being]

11. DONE

even better if you customize the message a little.

[durablend]

12. Lot of good mine is going to do...

"Forwarded to Specter and Santorum"

:puke:

[moggie12]

23. My condolences on your poor choice of people to write to

Santorum -- YEEECCCKKKK!!!!

It's still worth e-mailing, though, and writing and calling. They do respond to pressure on occasion (e.g., they're backing off pretty quick on SS). Lots of e-mails on a particular subject gets their attention. Too bad most Americans have no idea what's going on, huh?

[NMDemDist2]

24. hell, mine go to McCain and Kyl

that's scary as hell ya know?

[PassingFair]

26. I CRY for you, bshtg!

Mine are Stabenow and Levin. I trust Levin, but Stabenow has been smelling a bit off (eau de DLC) lately, as she will be up for re-election in 06. I think you should get EVERY friend and neighbor you can to spam your stinky senators!

Spector might be swayed.....don't you think?

[Kimber Scott]

13. Done. nt

[Mandate My Ass]

14. kick

[loudsue]

15. Git back up 'ere....

Thanks for posting this! Signed!
:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[NJCher]

16. Done

Cher

[Zomby Woof]

18. Is this STILL alive?

Damn... I published this long ago:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/08/17_bankrupt.html

Seems as long as the fascists control Congress, they will keep it going. Maybe they will shoot themselves in the foot again as they did before...

[moggie12]

20. It sure is and, at least until a few days ago, was considered a done deal

It's only now, when it's close to passage, that things are heating up. The New Republic just published an editorial saying the Dems should fight it tooth-and-nail, filibustering if necessary (since they're more centrist, that seemed pretty significant).

Snip:
"Since November, Democrats have been casting about for new ideas to reinvigorate their party, with a growing number agreeing that support for working Americans should be a central tenet in the party's strategy. Meanwhile, Republicans have taken the election as a carte blanche to help their friends in big business, largely at the expense of working Americans. Rather than a fight not worth having, the bankruptcy bill is just the sort of fight the Democrats should relish."

[PROGRESSIVE1]

29. The New Republic actually said that?

I'm glad to see that they have moved away from their total DLC being.

[BigBearJohn]

19. Done!

[maveric]

21. Done. n/t

[Digit]

22. Done, and edited it somewhat to make it more personal.

[PassingFair]

25. Thank you, Moggie!

Done! and sent on to responsible others!

[AmBlue]

27. Done & forwarded n/t

[Mr_Spock]

28. done

[Pooka Fey]

30. Done.

[moggie12]

31. Please e-mail and call your Senator -- this bill can still be killed!!

Even if they're Republican, it's still worthwhile.

[soup]

32. Darn it.

Senator Mel Martinez was unreachable. Please download and mail letter.

Have a feeling he's unreachable even if 'reachable'.

[merh]

33. Done and added my to it just to give it that personal touch!

Please show that you care about the citizens of this country and not just the corporations. The trickle down theory is working only as our nation's debt increases so does the debt of her most vulnerable citizens. Please stop this travesty, please care about the people and not the banks and financial institutions.

[lostnfound]

34. Do you have a working link on the cornyn amendment?

i.e., your 4th link. Or else the title of the article, so I can google it? Thanks.

[moggie12]

35. While looking, I found an update saying Cornyn dropped it under pressure

From Joe Biden!!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2789-2005Mar2.html

Original article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64232-2005Mar1.html

The only hope seems to be Chuck Schumer. Excerpt from today's article:
"Democrats will try various tactics to stall the bill in coming days, including trying to attach a controversial minimum-wage amendment to it, congressional aides said yesterday. But the real showdown, now that Cornyn's amendment has been tabled, will come when Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) offers an amendment that that would bar people from using bankruptcy to avoid paying court-imposed fines for unlawful acts, including those against abortion clinics. Schumer's amendment has killed the bill in previous sessions of Congress."

I am calling Biden's office to say now he has no chance whatsoever of getting the Democratic nomination.

[Mandate My Ass]

40. That article is horrible-we are screwed

Biden threatens Cornyn's special interests (rich homesteaders) if Cornyn threatens Biden's special interest (venue shopping for corporations). The common man will get screwed because the dueling special interests will cause any amendments to fail.

[moggie12]

41. Wasn't that utterly sickening?? I felt like screaming...

It's the battle of the rich guys' proxies! Tune in tommorrow to see which rich guy will win!! Don't bother watching if you're rooting for the common man, because he's not even in the game!!

God, this makes me sick.

[Mandate My Ass]

42. If you really want to scream...read this

Consumer Protection Act? Hardly. Last year the credit card companies raked in 30 billion in profits and delinquencies were at a 4-year low. Consumer groups testified before Congress about the nature of some of the more predatory practices, because the poor fools actually thought this was going to be at least partially about reining in some of the more egregious ways they gouge their clients. Most of what these companies do is deliberately designed to keep consumers in debt no matter how hard they try to pay their bills. None of this is addressed in the bill.


(4) Brief Profile of the Credit Card Industry:
Though interest rates fell sharply in the early 1990s after twenty years of relative stability, the cost of credit has risen dramatically since then.

In its 1999 Annual Report to Congress on credit card pricing, the Federal Reserve Board acknowledged that “credit card pricing . . . involves other elements, including annual fees, fees for cash advances, rebates, minimum finance charges, over-the-limit fees, and late payment charges.” The report also notes that, in the past, card issuers offered one interest rate for all customers. In recent years, however, issuers have begun to offer a range of interest rates, with the specific rate offered to a consumer dependent on that consumer’s particular credit risk and usage patterns. Finally, the report notes that issuers have tried to make their cards more attractive by offering low introductory rates, especially on balance transfers, and by offering affinity cards, such as cards with airline mileage programs or cash rebates.

Credit card companies have increased the cost of credit by decreasing cardholders’ minimum monthly payments, increasing interest rates, and piling on enormous fees. In recent years, credit card companies have decreased the minimum percentage of the balance that cardholders must pay in order to remain in good standing. Today, most companies require a minimum monthly payment of only 2% or 3% of the outstanding balance. As a result, cardholders who choose to pay only the minimum each month take longer to pay off their balances, paying more interest in the process.

Credit card companies’ profits nearly tripled from 1995 to 1999, jumping from $7.3 billion to $20 billion. The industry’s widespread adoption of costly terms and conditions helped lead to this massive increase in profits. Some of the newest conditions companies have imposed on consumers include:

· increased late payment fees,

· significant annual percentage rate (APR) increases after only one or two late payments,

· increases in a consumer’s APR when her standing with other creditors declines,

· increased APRs for cash advances, decreased grace periods, and

· decreased minimum monthly payments.

In 2000, fee income accounted for 25% of credit card companies’ total income, and between 1995 and 1999, total fee income increased by 158%, from $8.3 billion to $21.4 billion.

The rising cost of credit is contributing to an increase in average personal debt. In 2000, the average credit card debt for Americans who carry a balance reached $5610, and increase of nearly one-third since 1995.

Consumers file for bankruptcy to bring enormous debts under control. The typical Chapter 7 bankruptcy filer has high credit card debts-in 1996, $17,544 in credit card debt and an annual after-tax income of $19,800. From 1996-2000, revolving debt, such as that incurred by the use of credit cards, accounted for about 20% of total household debt, according to the Federal Reserve.

http://www.pirg.org/consumer/credit/creditcards1nov.htm

[Judi Lynn]

36. Thanks a lot. Did it. n/t

[teamster633]

39. Done,

although the good it will do sending it to Greg and Sunumb-numb is certainly questionable.

[semillama]

37. done

went to Voinovich and DeWine. :puke:

[NoSheep]

38. Done.

:kick: