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Progress On Identity
Theft Legislation?
Current state law on identity theft allows consumers to place a security freeze on their credit report only after they have been the victim of identity theft, which is a little like putting on your seatbelt right after getting into a car crash.
In the 2007 legislative session, many representatives and state senators are hoping to get legislation passed that would allow consumers to freeze their credit report before being the victim of identity theft. TexPIRG fully supports this campaign and will be working hard on this issue during the session.
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Congress Fails On Chemical Security
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REFINERIES NO SAFER—Despite pressure to improve the security of chemical refineries Congress failed to make these factories any safer. |
Many homeland security experts consider our nation’s chemical plants prime targets for terrorists and are concerned by their lack of defenses. Despite the obvious danger, Congress failed to enact meaningful security measures this fall. Although excellent bills have been put forward by a bipartisan group of Congressmen, Rep. Joe Barton (Tex.) and Rep. Pete King (N.Y.) attached a provision to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill which effectively maintains the status quo.
This was what the chemical industry wanted, as it does not want to foot the bill for increased security. TexPIRG plans to keep the pressure on the Texas congressional delegation to get the necessary security measures enacted in the next session of Congress.
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Payday Loans Plague
Low-Income Families
Although progress has been made in combating exploitative payday lending, the practice continues, contributing to the cycle of poverty in many of the more impoverished areas of the state. TexPIRG was instrumental in blocking a bad bill last session and will be pushing hard for better legislation in 2007.
In particular, we would recommend an interest cap for payday loans at 36 percent, as well as closing the loophole by which lenders define themselves as “credit service organizations” in order to avoid state regulations on their activities.
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