This is the final week of recess before the House returns to vote on H.R. 685, the Bankruptcy Bill. This is the right time to call your congresscritters and tell them to vote No, or ask them to defend their intended Yes vote.
The House is so far gone that it's not realistic to expect that the bill will be stopped. But Congress is unprincipled on this matter. They know it is a bad bill and are only passing it because of the lack of opposition. Registering your opposition is important.
Refer to the sidebar for the appropriate list. If you get any interesting information, leave a note and it will be incorporated into the list.
Also, I wrote about protest ideas in the past. There is a new site named Plastic Revolution that tracks efforts to mail credit card applications back to to the credit card companies. Check it out.
Posted by tunesmith at March 28, 2005 12:04 AM
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For more on this issue, see this earlier post of mine, or head over to Talking Points Memo: Special Bankruptcy Bill Edition. [Read More]
Tracked on March 30, 2005 02:57 PM
I was thinking about this Bankruptcy Bill and my site which I put up and wondered whether it would be relevant after (if) the Bill passes.
Seems like I might have been too late.
However, I think I will keep it going. There are goals we can achieve and attention we can get while the bill's law has not gone into effect. Please add your thoughts to this blog.
...and sign up to my site and turn your state purple!
Plastic Revolution
Shake things up!
Posted by: TalkieToaster at April 3, 2005 11:58 PM
FYI......
I sent the following e-mail to my Rep:
I want to register my dismay regarding the pending bankruptcy reform bill and urge you to vote against its passage. I have been practicing in the area of consumer bankruptcy law for more than 14 years. The proposed bankruptcy legislation removes any chance for financial recovery by a person who has fallen behind on his/her bills because of illness, divorce or job loss, which are the most common reasons for a bankruptcy filing.
The credit card industry, which hands out loans like candy, does not need or deserve the special treatment the proposed law will give them. I know of no one who would be sympathetic to me for my inability to collect on loans I granted indiscriminately and mindlessly. The proposed law simply turns the federal bankruptcy courts into free collection agencies for creditors.
I find one provision in the proposed law especially disturbing. Bankruptcy attorneys like myself will be held liable, through fines, for mistakes made by our clients. It will be difficult, and in many cases impossible, to ascertain the absolute accuracy of client-provided information. Bankruptcy clients have little money and will not be able to pay for the time an attorney would have to spend researching the client’s financial status and history. Such non-negligent vicarious liability has never been imposed in any other area of legal practice. I don’t mind being held accountable for my own actions, I abhor the thought of being held accountable for the actions of my clients.
Posted by: Karen Clark at March 29, 2005 11:32 AM