Dear Supporters,

We defeated the payday lenders’ $15 million campaign in Arizona, but they’re not done.

They have taken the fight to Washington, and they are looking to undo what we’ve accomplished here and in 15 other states across the country.

They’re trying to pass the Payday Loan “Reform” Act of 2009 – a deceptively titled gift to themselves — and unfortunately, they’ve managed to buy some pretty powerful support.

Sound familiar? Just as Prop 200 would have done, this “reform” measure would in fact authorize 391 percent interest payday loans.  It would give usury a federal stamp of approval, and turn back the work we’ve done in Arizona and 15 other states across the country.

Help us stop this dangerous bill!

The Payday Loan “Reform” Act of 2009 — H.R. 1214 – is sponsored by Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois. The industry is using the VERY SAME TACTICS they used in Arizona to deceive or co-opt policy makers: spending millions of dollars, hiring a host of well-connected lobbyists, donating lavishly to campaigns of both Democrats and Republicans, and spreading misinformation everywhere.

This bill would legitimize payday lending at 391 percent interest.  We must defeat it!

Members of Congress are back home from Washington on spring recess for ONLY EIGHT MORE DAYS. Now is the time to contact them.

You helped defeat the payday lenders in Arizona in 2008.  Because of you, Arizonans made their verdict clear:  No more legalized loan sharking!  Now we must make sure Congress does not undo our progress.

Pick up the phone and call Arizona’s Members of Congress.
Tell them to OPPOSE H.R. 1214 – The Payday Loan “Reform” Act of 2009.

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick – (928) 445-3434
Rep. Trent Franks – (623) 776-7911
Rep. John Shadegg – (602) 263-5300
Rep. Ed Pastor – (602) 256-0551
Rep. Harry Mitchell – (480) 946-2411
Rep. Jeff Flake – (480) 833-0092
Rep. Raul Grijalva – (520) 622-6788
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords – (520) 881-3588

Also, call our U.S. Senators
Tell them to support a bill in the Senate that would actually protect consumers — Sen. Dick Durbin’s bill: “Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2009″ (S. 500). This bill would impose a federal fees and interest rate cap of 36 percent annualized, total, on ALL consumer credit.  It would make triple-digit interest loans such as payday loans and car title loans illegal.  Nationwide.  Finally!

Call Sen. McCain today- (602) 952-2410
Call Sen. Kyl today – (602) 840-1891

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In addition, take a few moments to send a letter to the editor of your local paper today.  The payday lenders would prefer that nobody know about these bills in Congress.  Let’s make sure everyone knows.  As Prop 200 showed, they don’t do well when the public learns what they’re up to.

So please, SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE.  Don’t delay.  Take action right now, then forward this email to everyone you know.

For more background information please visit our coalition’s website: www.NoMoreLoanSharks.com

Thank you for your continued civic engagement and your immediate attention to this urgent matter,

Kelly

Kelly Griffith
Arizonans for Responsible Lending
(520) 250-4416

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PS:  Last week, Jean Ann Fox of Consumer Federation of America (and a local leader of Arizonans for Responsible Lending) testified at the House Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee hearing on H.R. 1214.  Click here to view her toe-to-toe battle with the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Gutierrez, who also chairs the subcommittee.  To read her testimony, click here.

If you’d like to take the next step, contact Members of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.  This is the committee in which we can KILL THIS BILL!

Tell them to vote NO on H.R. 1214 -the Payday Loan “Reform” Act of 2009.

(For those that are co-sponsoring this misleading and harmful legislation, urge them to reconsider their support for the bill and withdraw as a co-sponsor as soon as Congress reconvenes.)

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Democratic Committee Members involved with this legislation:

Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, IL, Chairman (Primary sponsor) – (773) 342-0774
Rep. Gary L. Ackerman, NY (co-sponsor) – (718) 423-2154
Rep. Dennis Moore, KS (co-sponsor) – (913) 383-2013
Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, PA (co-sponsor) – (570) 825-2200
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, NY (co-sponsor) – (516) 739-3008
Rep. William Lacy Clay, MO (co-sponsor) – (314) 367-1970
Rep. David Scott, GA (co-sponsor) – (770) 210-5073
Rep. Keith Ellison, MN (co-sponsor) – (612) 522-1212
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, NY (co-sponsor) – (718) 725-6000
Rep. Bill Foster, IL (co-sponsor) – (630) 406-1114
Rep. Joe Baca, CA (Sponsoring an equally BAD bill that would condone 400% interest rates and preempt state consumer protections, HR 1846 – the ‘C.L.E.A.R. Act’) -  (909)885-BACA
Rep. Walt Minnick, ID (co-sponsoring HR 1846 – the C.L.E.A.R. Act) – (208) 888-3188

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Other Democratic Committee Members NOT involved with this legislation:

Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, NY – (212) 860-0606
Rep. Melvin L. Watt, NC - (704) 344-9950
Rep. Brad Sherman, CA – (818) 501-9200
Rep. Maxine Waters, CA - (323) 757-8900
Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, TX - (956) 682-5545
Rep. Al Green, TX – (713) 383-9234
Rep. Brad Miller, NC – (919) 836-1313
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, MO - (816) 842-4545
Rep. Melissa L. Bean, IL – (847) 517-2927
Rep. Paul W. Hodes, NH – (603) 358-1023
Rep. Ron Klein, FL – (866) 713.7303
Rep. Charles Wilson, OH – (888) 706-1833
Rep. Ed Perlmutter, CO – (303) 274-7944
Rep. Travis Childers, MS – (662) 841-8808

Rep. Jackie Speier, CA – Sponsoring a GOOD bill that would cap ALL fee and interest rates at 36 PERCENT ANNUAL INTEREST – H.R. 1608 – Companion to Dick Durbin’s bill in the Senate.  THANK HER FOR HER LEADERSHIP!! – (650) 342-0300

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Republican Committee Members (none are currently co-sponsors):

Rep. Jeb Hensarling, TX, Ranking Member – (214) 349-9996
Rep. J. Gresham Barrett, SC - (864) 224-7401
Rep. Michael N. Castle, DE - (302) 428-1902
Rep. Peter King, NY – (516) 541-4225
Rep. Edward R. Royce, CA – (714) 744-4130
Rep. Walter B. Jones , NC – (252) 931-1003
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, WV – 304.925.5964
Rep. Scott Garrett, NJ - (201) 444-5454
Rep. Jim Gerlach, PA – (610) 594-1415
Rep. Randy Neugebauer, TX – (806) 763-1611
Rep. Tom Price, GA – (770) 565-4990
Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, NC – (828) 327-6100
Rep. John Campbell, CA – 949-756-2244
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, CA – (661) 327-3611
Rep. Kenny Marchant, TX – 972-556-0162
Rep. Christopher Lee, NY – (585) 663-5570
Rep. Erik Paulsen, MN – (952) 405-8510
Rep. Leonard Lance, NJ – (908) 518-7733

Thank you for helping defend what we all fought so hard for last November…  A 36% CAP for all lenders.  Period.