Call-on on Tuesday to protest Bankruptcy bill

Protest the Bankruptcy Reform Bill

The Bankruptcy Reform legislation being considered in Congress will make it harder for low- and moderate-income individuals to get out of debt even when blind sided by sickness, divorce, or job loss. These are the very times when people are most vulnerable to credit card companies' pitches to rack up debt.

Congress is considering this legislation because the big banks and credit card companies have contributed more than $101 million to federal candidates and party committees over the last six years (a Senate cycle). Of that, 36% went to Democrats and 64% went to Republicans.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2005, there will be a Call-in to Protest the Bankruptcy Reform bill. We flooded the switchboards in December and January demanding that senators and representatives stand with Representative Conyers and oppose the certification of Ohio's votes. So many calls were made and so many faxes sent that the "800" that was once supplied to congress by the lobbyists was disconnected and debate was had on the election fraud and disenfranchisement that took place on November 2, 2004.

Well, let's flood the switchboards of the House, Senate, and White House with calls letting them know that "we're mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore."

Send faxes and emails, send letters, let them know that WE THE PEOPLE don’t appreciate the fact that they are voting for corporations and businesses over the needs of the citizens.

Demand your representatives represent the people and not the corporations.

Date: ______________

Dear Representative/Congressman_____________:

I urge you to oppose the bankruptcy bill underwritten by the credit card industry's campaign contributions. This legislation -- S. 256 -- is one big payoff to the big banks and credit card companies, which, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, have contributed more than $101 million to federal candidates and party committees in the last three elections. It will hurt low and moderate income Americans who have found themselves in difficult financial circumstances. Indeed, nine out of ten families filing for bankruptcy do so because of job loss, medical problems, divorce, or separation.

How can you ask the citizens to be responsible with their personal debts when you are not responsible with our national debts? Isn’t that rather hypocritical? Our national debt is huge, what would you do if our government was held to the same harsh standards that you are allowing the credit card companies to hold the citizens to under this legislation?

Our political system is drowning in debt to wealthy donors. I urge you to oppose this big money legislation.

Please support the people and not the corporations. Stop this bill, do not let it become law.

Sincerely,



__________________________
Name
Address
__________________________
__________________________

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:

We write to encourage you to bring bankruptcy reform legislation to the House floor as soon as the Senate completes its consideration of the bill. The New Democrat Coalition has backed common sense bankruptcy reform in the past and helped in passing the bankruptcy reform bill by overwhelming margins in the House of Representatives during the 108th Congress.

Over the last several years, we have worked to advance reasonable and balanced legislation that would require individuals who have the ability to repay their debts to do so, while preserving the important safety net of bankruptcy under Chapter 7 for those who truly need it. We believe that responsible bankruptcy reform embodies the New Democrat principle of personal responsibility, while at the same time adding important new consumer protections such as requiring enhanced credit card disclosure information and encouraging participation in consumer credit counseling.

It is our hope that the House of Representatives will consider this important piece of legislation in an expedited manner. We stand ready to work with you and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass bankruptcy reform into law.

Sincerely,

Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher
Rep. Adam Smith
Rep. Ron Kind
Rep. Artur Davis
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy
Rep. John Larson
Rep. Stephanie Herseth
Rep. Dennis Moore
Rep. Mike McIntyre
Rep. Joe Crowley
Rep. Jay Israel
Rep. David Wu
Rep. Diane Hooley
Rep. Melissa Bean
Rep. Jim Davis
Rep. Harold E. Ford, Jr.
Rep. Ed Case
Rep. Jay Inslee
Rep. Shelley Berkeley
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/8/202044/7026