Michael Swayze's Community Resources

Category: Politics

  • Congress To Block Consumer Protection Rule

    A Congressional vote is expected as early as Tuesday, July 25, on a resolution to block a new rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that prohibits class action bans in forced arbitration clauses of consumer contracts.

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s rule “would make it easier for consumers to file or join an existing group lawsuit if they are harmed by a financial service provider, such as a bank or credit card company”, according to a statement appearing on the Board’s website.

    Action to prevent this consumer rule from going into effect is supported by Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee. The GOP’s bill, H.J. Resolution 111, sponsored by Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA) uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal the Bureau’s rule.

    What can you do to protect consumer rights and support the new protections against mandatory arbitration? You can take the following direct action, today:

    • Telephone Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who represents New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District and a member of the House Financial Services Committee. His Washington office number is 202-225-4465. We need as many calls as possible.
    • Ask,”Will the Congressman support ordinary New Jersey people hurt by bad actors and oppose any resolution to take away our day in court?”
    • Support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s force arbitration rule, which restores our 7th Amendment right to our day in court when companies like Wells Fargo engage in widespread wrongdoing.
    • Ask what is the Congressman’s position on H.J. Resolution 111.

    Please let me know if you hear anything back on his position by emailing me at my contact page.

  • Senate Call-In To Stop TrumpCare

    The United States Senate is scheduled to vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act later this month by which 23 million will lose their health care coverage. Political analysts currently believe the TrumpCare bill (American Health Care Act, or AHCA) currently before Congress will pass unless there is overwhelming reaction by the voting public.

    “Our pressure makes political change possible”, according to Ben Wikler, Washington director of MoveOn.org. He went on to state “an uprising is needed to stop the Republican bill from passing”. The following doable actions have been suggested:

    • Use social media to message your friends about the American Health Care Act.
    • Contact your U.S. Senator – especially Republican Senators – using the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly to the requested Senate office.
    • Call everyday and flood Senate offices with phone calls. (Wednesday, June 13 is a national call-in day.)
    • Recruit others to call.
    • Join a local Indivisible Group.
    • Attend rallies outside a Republican Senator’s district office.

    Particular emphasis has been placed on calling Senate Republicans from the states of Alaska, Colorado, Ohio, Maine, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Arizona and Nevada. Urge friends and family in these states to take action, too.

    A full listing of Senators is available at https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

  • Discontent and Primary Election

    An interesting article appeared in yesterday’s Philadelphia Inquirer by Kevin Riordan their South Jersey columnist. The article is titled, “Discontent fuels progressive slate in Cherry Hill.” The introduction begins with the following: “This refreshing if not quite revolutionary political effort arises in part from concerns about the redevelopment of South Jersey’s signature suburb, but also is being propelled by worries about the direction of the Democratic Party and the nation itself.”

    Kevin Riordan goes on to write, “The fact that the mainstream Cherry Hill Democrats have been supported for decades by a sophisticated, well-financed county party organization that cultivates generational loyalty has led, the progressives say, to a municipal government that is more insular and less transparent than it would like the public to believe.”

    Many discontented citizens would probably agree with the above – irrespective of town or county you live in. Kevin Riordan said it in a polite manner. Others would be more plain by stating that major party county committees aka “political machines” are entrenched and always anxious to maintain their political power, absent any regard for the betterment or well-being of the people in the community. If you are angry with the current situation, then you should make sure you are registered to vote.

    Tomorrow, May 16, is the last opportunity to register and vote in the June 6 Primary Election. You can obtain a Voter Registration Application which must be delivered or mailed/postmarked by tomorrow to your local county elections office.