Jackson County Democrats

"The historical analogy is just flat wrong. This isn't about taxation without representation; it's about right-wingers who don't want to accept that they just lost a national election," says Kevin Looper, executive director of Our Oregon.

"The real problem isn't that right-wing ideologues haven't been represented in our government, it's that the last decade of their governing has left the rest of us in such hot water."

Despite the tea party sideshow, the real story is that middle and working class families are the ones whose interests need better representation. For decades, average Americans and Oregonians have been increasingly left behind while tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy have skyrocketed--with the rest of us left to carry the burden. As the economy crumbles, those same working families are going to be hurt most.

If you're frustrated by the hypocrisy of today's tea party politics, join us in a real grassroots effort to make change in the lives of working people. Help progressives pass an economic fairness agenda in Salem that will provide tangible support and consumer protection for real Oregonians.

Thanks to the hard work of Rep. Paul Holvey and Senator Suzanne Bonamici, the Oregon legislature is considering numerous key consumer protection bills:

Keep Credit Scores Out of Hospitals

HB 2959 -- Prohibit Oregon Hospitals from Using Credit Scores to Determine Medical Care. HB 2959 is in response to the emergence of a new credit scoring product, the MedFICO. Protects Oregonians from having their course of care limited based on a credit score that may or may not accurately reflect their history of payments on medical bills.

Foreclosure Protections

HB 2188 and 2189 -- Enforcement of Higher Lending Standards: Implements the new federal mortgage broker licensing and registration system. Increase protection for borrowers entering into high-risk loans; better disclosure of essential terms; equal access to justice when violations occur. Status: HB 2188 passed House on 4/1; HB 2189 had its first hearing 4/3

SB 628 -- Pre-Foreclosure Mandatory Mediation: Stops preventable foreclosures by requiring lenders to engage with homeowners to consider mutually beneficial loan modification. Status: work session held 4/21

SB 952 -- Protection for Tenants in Foreclosure: Protects the rights of tenants renting a home from a landlord in foreclosure. Tenants are innocent third parties to a failed loan transaction; they should not be evicted because of foreclosure. Status: first hearing held on 4/15

Asset Protection:

SB 731 -- Exempt Income Protection Act: Provides mechanism to prevent illegal garnishment of protected funds such as veterans' benefits, social security, and unemployment insurance. Protects access to subsistence level support for vulnerable families. Status: work session held 4/21

HB 3163 -- Refund Anticipation Loan Regulation: Protects access to hard-earned tax returns by regulating companies selling "quick" returns, when comparable services are available for free. Status: public hearing held on 3/27

SB 515 -- Lemon Law: Protects consumers from auto dealers who attempt to profit from the sale of "lemon" vehicles. Expands protection of Oregon's lemon law. Status: work session held on 4/16

Regulation of Abusive Debt Collection Practices

SB 328 -- Enforcement of Unlawful Debt Collection Practice Act Violations: Protects consumers by authorizing the Attorney General to take action against illegal and abusive practices by collection agencies. Passed Senate 2/26 and House 4/1

SB 386 -- Expanded Protections in the Unlawful Debt Collection Practice Act: Protects consumers from debt collectors who attempt to collect a debt that they know, or have good reason to know, does not exist. Passed Senate 4/1

HB 2191 -- Regulation of Debt Management Companies: Prohibit abusive practices by companies advertising debt management (settlement) services, including home loan modification services.