Can the the bankruptcy bill be considered a Democratic acid test?

[blondeatlast]

This is to me the perfect example of big D Democratic ideas; a little protection for the little guy.

Am I overreacting? Or is this the bill that really separates the Ds from the DINOS?

Your thoughts?

[rfranklin]

1. I can be considered a Republican...

asshole test.

[Aussie_expat]

2. Should be......

The worker needs every protection they can get from lenders.

ESPECIALLY THE PREDATORS like ........... well all of them.

[LittleClarkie]

3. Are you willing for Lieberman not to be a DINO by this standard?

If so, then perhaps.

[blondeatlast]

4. Good question. This just seems to me to be the bill that cuts to the

heart of the matter.

I've never despised Lieberman quite as much as many (ducks inevitable flames)--which is not to say I'm a fan by any means.

I don;'t like him, but as a Dem in a solidly red state, I've learned that I have to swallow the cod liver oil in order to get ahead sometimes.

[moggie12]

5. I think it's more of a "corporate flunky" litmus test

Biden and the other Delaware Senator (Carper??) both supported the bill wholeheartedly because Delaware is home to MBNA and other financial companies. What the story is on the other Dem traitors I don't know, but I'm assuming it has something to do with financial interests in their States:

"PADemocrat" posted this earlier today (yesterday's amendment votes):

Corzine Amdt. No. 32; To preserve existing bankruptcy protections for individuals experiencing economic distress as caregivers to ill or disabled family members.

NAYS: Baucus, Bingaman, Carper, Johnson, Nelson
NOT VOTING: Biden, Inouye


Kennedy Amdt. No. 29; To provide protection for medical debt homeowners

NAYS: Bingaman, Carper, Johnson, Nelson
NOT VOTING: Biden, Inouye


Kennedy Amdt. No. 28.; To exempt debtors whose financial problems were caused by serious medical problems from means testing.

NAYS: Biden, Carper, Johnson, Nelson
NOT VOTING: Dodd, Inouye


Akaka Amdt. No. 15; To require enhanced disclosure to consumers regarding the consequences of making only minimum required payments in the repayment of credit card debt, and for other purposes.

NAYS: Baucus, Biden, Carper, Johnson, Nelson
NOT VOTING: Inouye


Feingold Amdt. No. 17.; To provide a homestead floor for the elderly

NAYS: Biden, Carper, Nelson
NOT VOTING: Inouye


Durbin Amdt. No. 16, As Modified.; To protect servicemembers and veterans from means testing in bankruptcy, to disallow certain claims by lenders charging usurious interest rates to servicemembers, and to allow servicemembers to exempt property based on the law of the State of their premilitary residence.

NAYS: Baucus, Biden, Byrd, Carper, Johnson, Nelson
NOT VOTING: Dayton, Inouye

[Withywindle]

6. That's weird!

Why would Byrd vote against that last Durbin amendment, to protect servicemembers? It wouldn't make sense for him to do anything that could be seen as anti-services or anti-veteran for WV!!

[sadiesworld]

11. B/c his career is basically over?

Were the dems (in general) on board with killing these amendments and looking for someone who could take the political hit on this particularly sensitive one (screwing over the servicemembers in a time of war)? Notice that more votes were needed to kill this one, presumably b/c some repug(s) feared a little patriotic backlash.

More and more it all looks like theater.

Edit to add: Also note Dayton's non-participation in that particular vote--more number jockeying?

[flpoljunkie]

7. Read this column by E.J. Dionne, "A Bill Bankrupt of Pity." He's with you

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61634-2005Feb28.html

Consider the double whammy that this Congress could end up imposing. At a moment when the president is proposing cuts in Medicaid and when many Americans are losing part or all of their health insurance coverage, citizens who fall into medical-financial hell are being told it will be much harder for them to win relief from bankruptcy judges.

Under the bill's key provision, those who make more than the median annual income in their state are much more likely to have to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 of the code. This tough section requires debtors to live up to a strict repayment plan. The current system makes it easier for debtors to go into Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which allows consumers to wipe their slate clean -- though only after forfeiting part of their assets. The bill's "means test" would give judges less discretion to distinguish between those who abuse the system and those who deserve its protection. And even for those below the median income level, it would raise legal costs and shrink safeguards.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) is trying to rally Democrats against a bill that he says would make too many citizens "indebted servants to the credit card companies." He plans to propose a series of amendments that broaden relief for those facing bankruptcy primarily for medical reasons, as well as for men and women in military service.

He would also try to balance the bill with tougher provisions to fight corporate abuses of the bankruptcy laws. "Often, the very insiders whose misconduct brought the company down do very well in bankruptcy," Kennedy says. "The people who get hurt the worst are the employees, past and present." Some of whom, by the way, are forced into bankruptcy.

There is a great misunderstanding that the key fight in our politics is between friends and foes of capitalism. In fact, the battle is among supporters of capitalism who disagree over what rules should govern the market. Should the rules favor the wealthy and the connected, or should they give some protection to those who fall into distress and would like nothing more than a chance to rejoin the ownership society?If Democrats sell out on the bankruptcy bill, they will, alas, show which side they're on.

________________

I'm with E. J. Dionne on this. I will be taking names of those who vote with the Republicans on this bill.

[blondeatlast]

10. I hadn't seen that. Thank you.

There is a great misunderstanding that the key fight in our politics is between friends and foes of capitalism. In fact, the battle is among supporters of capitalism who disagree over what rules should govern the market. Should the rules favor the wealthy and the connected, or should they give some protection to those who fall into distress and would like nothing more than a chance to rejoin the ownership society?If Democrats sell out on the bankruptcy bill, they will, alas, show which side they're on.

Nailed the issue. It isn't really Dems vs. Repubs (I hear even McCain is waffling on it), it's who gives a damn about the citizens vs. the monolithic corporations.

[madmark]

8. Yes its an acid test

[OneBlueSky]

9. it's sure as hell a litmus test as far as I'm concerned . . .

any Democrat supporting this atrocity is off my donation and voting list forever . . . this is nothing but a giveaway to an industry that's already screwing consumers at every turn, with no oversight or control by the government . . . if the Democrats can't come together to defeat this, I say screw 'em . . .

[lojasmo]

12. No.

I'd say the Ohio vote would be a reasonable one.

[gulfcoastliberal]

13. Definitely. Biden is one SLEAZY DINO

Talk about hiding in plain sight. This is an issue the entire party should be united on. Traitors.

[Langis]

14. Yes if a Democrat votes for this shit bill we know they are a sell out

[tokenlib]

15. It ought to be...but it won't...

Look at the names who have previously supported this evil crap--Hillary Clinton and Carl Levin?? Damn, if we don't all like Levin here in Michigan--I've been absolutely nauseous over this. These people know better! And Democrats not standing up for what they believe is why the republicans are in control right now.

Bill vetoed this shit as President, and I admired him for it--Hillary ought to be bitch slapped!