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STOP PREDATORY LENDING 


#PredatoryLending
#PostalBankingAct
#MickMulvaney
#CFPB

Predatory lending is draining low-income communities and weakening our social system:
Low-income households pay $89 billion annually in interest and fees for short-term payday and similar loans.
Oregonians can pay up to 36% interest per year – or 153.77% on repeat renewals 
68 million Americans without bank accounts spend about 10% annually to access their own money

Legislation is in the works to tamp down predatory lending and provide a public option for banking:
–The SAFE Lending Act, (HR 4999, S 2417) would attack predatory loan services online. 
A bill by Sen. Gillibrand would establish limited retail banking at the country’s 30,000+ post offices. Though the idea is controversial, nearly 60% of post offices are in zip codes with either one or zero bank branches.

Despite all this hardship, Mick Mulvaney, temporary head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)—who received $63,000 from payday lenders—has slowed the Bureau’s drive to reduce payday lending abuses.

Some of our MoCs are leaders in efforts to end predatory lending, promote access to affordable banking, and protect the CFPB, but . . .

Not Greg Walden!

Vote Him Out! 


**ACTION 1: Call Complicit Greg Walden and Senators Merkley and Wyden**
(Leave a message if you can’t get through.)

SAMPLE SCRIPT for Trump Enabler Greg Walden:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because I want Mr. Walden to support the SAFE Lending Act to stop online predatory lending. I also ask him to consider a bill like Senator Gillibrand’s proposal to establish banking services at all local post offices. We don’t have a just society if poor people must pay outrageous fees for predatory loans they need to just to get by. Thank you.”


SAMPLE SCRIPT for Senator Merkley:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I want to thank Senator Merkley for introducing the SAFE Lending Act to stop online predatory lending. I also ask him to consider a bill like Senator Gillibrand’s proposal to establish banking services at all local post offices. We don’t have a just society if poor people must pay outrageous fees for predatory loans they need to just to get by. Thank you.”

SAMPLE SCRIPT for Senator Wyden:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I want to thank Senator Wyden for co-sponsoring the SAFE Lending Act to stop online predatory lending. I also ask him to consider a bill like Senator Gillibrand’s proposal to establish banking services at all local post offices. We don’t have a just society if poor people must pay outrageous fees for predatory loans they need to just to get by. Thank you.”


**ACTION 2: It’s Time To Get Out The Vote**

It has become clear that we need a different Congress to end  Trump Administration abuses like relaxing regulations protecting people from predatory lending.

That means replacing Greg Walden with someone who will represent We The People.

VOTE in the Primary for the progressive candidates of your choice. You should have your ballot by now! Be sure you and all of your progressive friends return their ballots by May 15people who vote in the primary are EIGHT TIMES more likely to vote in the general election!

Don’t forget to VOTE the ENTIRE BALLOT! In Jackson County, we have two progressive women running for County Commissioner—Lanita Witt and Amy Thuren. Let’s get progressive voices into ALL LEVELS of Government!

Help us Get Out the Vote—GOTV!

If you are not already working with the Neighborhood Leader Program to GOTV, sign up by visiting:

http://www.jcdemocrats.org/get-involved/neighborhood-leaders-program/

It really is that simple. And guess what? By doing that simple thing you will help increase voter turnout significantly. In the Oregon January 2018 Measure 101 Election progressive voter turnout was increased by 34 points! That’s how elections are won!

If you are already participating, recruit five of your friends to join the program!

The 2018 elections will be the most important of our lives!