Bill Nelson is talking in the senate right now,

[Califooyah Operative]

he's talking about his amendment - which would exempt victims of identity theft who filed bankruptcy from the bankruptcy reform bill. He made many good points;

1.2 million Bank Of America customers, Federal employees, including 60 senators had their identities stolen this weekend.

The ftc says;
10 million people in '04 were victims of identity theft
Most common fraud on consumers, accounting for 30 percent of complaints
Costs the US 52 Billion dollars in '04.

Id. thefts lead to wrongful arrests, jobs denied, and debt - bankruptcy

Consumer federation of America endorses his amendment

Go bill nelson!

[Stop_the_War]

1. Bill Nelson is not a real democrat

he's a "democrat-in-name-only". Look up his past voting record.

[Califooyah Operative]

2. Ok.

that's not what my post was about. But thanks.

[joanski01]

3. Thanks for keeping us informed.

I have been watching the Senate all day, and I'm taking a break visiting DU. I'm glad to know what I'm missing. The Repukes don't want ANY amendments to this bill, so I hope the Dems keep amending and amending and amending until the cows come home.

[Califooyah Operative]

4. Indeed.

as far as i'm concerned anyone the democrats can exempt from that bill is a victory, the more the better, especially on an important issue like this, were people are victimized, they don't deserve more hardships.

[joanski01]

7. It's a bill written by the credit card

companies for the credit card companies. As one of the Dem Senators said on Monday, there are so many more important things they could be doing. Why are we doing this?

[Califooyah Operative]

8. same ol' republican business....nt

[justy387]

5. What did you just accomplish by saying that?

We need to be united. Nelson is not the most liberal, by any means. If you want to run Boxers in 50 states, expect to have only ten or so Democrats.

I would be fine if you were talking about Ben Nelson or Lieberman. But, Nelson is just a regular, rank-and-file, mainstream Democrat.

Why didn't you devote your energy in making that statement to attacking Republicans!!

[kcass1954]

14. Big-time DINO!

I'm in Florida, and he's getting worse and worse.

Agreed that we need to protect those who are victims of identity theft. But we also need to protect people who file banko due to illness, death of a spouse, job loss, military service, and countless other legitimate reasons that are beyond their control.

And what about those people who keep getting credit cards simply because the credit card companies keep giving them out? Is the credit card industry willing to admit any wrongdoing or complacency on their part?

My 18-year-old son just got a credit card. And you may be thinking, "So?" He's still in high school and does not have a job. I'm his only means of support. How does this happen?

He doesn't know that he has it. I get the mail every day, and I just set it aside without telling him about it. I haven't decided what to do with it yet, but I don't think he's ready to handle that type of responsibility yet. And I'm certainly not in a position to be able to pay someone else's credit card bill.

[Mandate My Ass]

6. Amending this bill is a joke -- it should not be passed in any form

That is what they should be saying. This bill hurts families. The rich are exempt, they can keep their mansions and still get their debt discharged. Abortion clinic bombers are given safe haven, they can declare bankruptcy to avoid paying fines.

Health related bankruptcies are up 2200% and they make up the majority of people declaring bankruptcy. Abusers make up 3% of bankruptcy claims but you don't hear any of the Senators saying that.

As the Harvard professor who did a study on this bill said, this is like Congress deciding to close hospitals because there's a massive flu outbreak.

They should sink this bill. Period.

[joanski01]

9. I think they really are trying to sink this bill.

Adding all these amendments is an attempt to stall and block it.

[Mandate My Ass]

11. I hope you're right

but this is a very punitive bill skewed to hurt only the middle and working classes. It does not address the predatory practices of the credit card companies that cause people who are treading water to go under. That in itself should be enough to sink it.

[Califooyah Operative]

10. Durbin's talking,

his amendment addresses predatory lending.

[B0S0X87]

12. Which Nelson are we talking about?

The one in Florida or the one in Nebraska?

Either way, Go Nelson!

[Califooyah Operative]

13. florida, sorry, hehe, nt

[Tactical Progressive]

15. So if they exempt some esoteric debt conditions

that will make them feel alright in passing this bill?

How about instead, they imprison the executives of the major credit card companies for loan-sharking. Their 25% and higher interest rates, given to them over the past few years, would have been called extortion at any point in history up to now.