S.256 - the federal bankrupcy bill

[paineinthearse]

Received by email from http://www.americanprogressaction.org/
Charge the Senate

This week the credit card industry – which raked in $30 billion in profits last year
http://www.demos-usa.org/pubs/bankruptcy_press_kit.pdf

– storms the Congress in an attempt to squeeze a few more dimes from Americans who are sick or out of work. Starting today the Senate will consider a bill (S. 256)
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:s256rs.txt.pdf

that would amend bankruptcy law to "make it harder for families struck by financial misfortune to get back on track." (Nine out of 10 bankruptcies "are triggered by the loss of a job, high medical bills or divorce.)
http://www.demos-usa.org/pubs/bankruptcy_press_kit.pdf

The bill is supported in Congress by a bipartisan coalition on the credit industry dole.
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=F06

They think they can pass the bill without the American people noticing. Prove them wrong. Write your senators and tell them to reject the legislation in its current form.
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?

[bryant69]

1. They've been working on this one for al ong time

They like to natter on about personal responsibility but when Credit Card Companies are willing to issue credit cards to anybody with a pulse, well, its the consumers who have to pay.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[liberalhistorian]

2. They MUST make an exception for medical bills,

which are the cause of over half of the bankruptcy filings. It's simply unconscionable for them not to, considering they have the best health insurance in the country paid for courtesy of the very taxpayers who do NOT have that and who could lose their home and all of their assets just to pay for cancer or other illness treatment, even if they have insurance. There was just a study out confirming the link between bankruptcy and medical bills, and most filing were middle-class families with insurance who were still financially ruined and had to file bankruptcy just because one of them had a major illness. What total, unfair bullshit!

[Jacobin]

5. Don't worry. They won't

:-(

[ArkDem]

3. Yes, it's not the people's fault that they want stuff. The card

companies baited them.

[melissinha]

4. Grassley, what a schmuck

I am embarassed of you Grassley...how RUDE.... Iowans don't use irresponisble terms as "irresponsible consumerism" ... never voted for you.... you suck!!!


So as long as you are a businessman, say the now President, you can get government bail outs even though you have millions as back up that never get touched.... yet millions of Americans have to tough it out..... I say we collect on Bush's past corporate "bankrupcy" debts to apply to the deficit....

Grassley you SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[shadowknows69]

6. So I should just shoot myself now right? n/t

[liberalhistorian]

7. Basically, if this goes through in its present

form, we all might as well do that since anyone can suffer setbacks, even the most responsible people.

[shadowknows69]

8. doesn't matter

I can't afford to hire a lawyer to declare banktruptcy. It's right to the streets for my wife and I. Good thing we have a barely running van to sleep in. Anyone have any suggestions on good service areas along the interstate?

[paineinthearse]

9. Anyone watching the floor debate? nt