Broder - A Bankrupt 'Reform'

[paineinthearse]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28522-2005Mar11.html

A Bankrupt 'Reform'

By David S. Broder

Sunday, March 13, 2005; Page B07


When it comes to blatant hypocrisy, nothing beats the Senate record on the just-passed bankruptcy bill. This "reform," which parades as an effort to stop folks from spending lavishly and then stiffing creditors by filing for bankruptcy protection, is a perfect illustration of how the political money system tilts the law against average Americans. The simple fact that for eight straight years it has gained a place on a crowded congressional calendar is testimony to the impact of the millions of dollars that banks and credit card companies have spent on lobbyists and campaign contributions.

What happened -- and didn't happen -- during two weeks of Senate debate demonstrates just how the powerful exert their influence. It's all too typical of what takes place now in Washington with most issues. Few policy battles, Social Security being a current example, draw enough public and press interest for the legislators to feel real scrutiny. Most are in a netherworld where media coverage is cursory and interest groups' pressure determines the outcome. That's how bankruptcy reform made it through the Senate and why it will soon pass the House and be signed into law by President Bush.

The recent decade's rise in the number of bankruptcy cases has been dramatic, and it is not difficult to find cases of abuse. But most bankruptcy petitions are filed by people with real financial problems, often the result of family illness, divorce or loss of jobs. This bill will make it harder for everyone -- chiselers and innocent victims alike -- to get a clean start without the overhang of mounting interest payments on unpaid credit cards and other debt.

For two weeks the Senate sponsors shot down virtually every attempt to separate the sheep from the goats and carve out protections for the average family trapped by circumstances. The dry language of the Congressional Record recites a series of one-sided votes rejecting amendments "to protect service members and veterans . . . to exempt debtors whose financial problems were caused by serious medical problems . . . to preserve existing bankruptcy protections for individuals experiencing economic distress as caregivers to ill or disabled family members . . . to exempt debtors if their problems were caused by identity theft." Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the creditors' pursuit of those folks.

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[Nite Owl]

1. He couldn't have written

this before the deed was done? Where were all the editorials a week ago.

[paineinthearse]

4. a day late and a dollar short

When is the "liberal media" going to get ahead of the curve instead of REACTING to the Rove-lead scheme.

[Enquiringkitty]

2. People just will not believe that things like this will really pass and

when they do.....then they speak of outrage and injustice. People are going to have to look out for the lightening before it strikes.

[dand]

3. Democratic Senators who supported this bill

should be drummed out of the party, hyper wealthy columnists like Broder were no where to be found when this class warfare bill was being rammed through the Senate.

We have a one party political system, and it doesn't give a rats ass about public opinion.

[KoKo]

5. He doesn't mention Republicans does he. He says "sponsors" Ha!

Broder annoys me so much I could read the whole article but did he ever say the Democrats fought hard with amendment after amendment? From the snip here he couches his language like a lawyer to avoid sounding "partisan." Just my opinion, anyway...