Credit Discrimination Bill Being Introduced By A Wisconsin Legislator

I like it, a lot. I think other states should consider this idea.

http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11016398

New bill could make discrimination against bad credit illegal


Madison (AP) - A Wisconsin lawmaker wants to make it illegal for employers to discriminate against job seekers based on their credit history.

State Rep. Kim Hixson is a Democrat from Whitewater. He says some employers make hiring decisions based on a person's credit rating, even when it doesn't reflect a person's work ethic.

The bill wouldn't prevent employers from obtaining a credit history through a background check. But it would prohibit them from using the information in a discriminatory way.

A state group that fights domestic violence supports the bill, saying some victims lose their good credit because of their spouses' mistakes.

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce is among the groups that opposes the measure. It says employers have the right to protect themselves from employee fraud."


P.S. WMC (Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce bought the last two Supreme Court races.)

If they can obtain it, they will use it... How would anyone be able to prove otherwise? The bill ought to clamp down on access to credit checks, which should NOT be part of a criminal background check.

Hopefully, that could be part of this bill.

hasn't thought of this.... Which, tinfoil aside, makes me worry that they are just "posturing." A bill like this would likely sail through (unopposed by big business and other interests), since there would not really be any impact. What can't be proven, can not be enforced....:shrug:

If not, as I think it probably doesn't then they need to prohibit employers from obtaining credit reports of potential employees. PERIOD

Credit reports are not the business of employers. It does not mean they can't do the job well. It's a non-factor really (unless it's a bank or credit agency, and even then I'm not so sure.)