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Elizabeth Warren

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Middle Class Families vs. Big Banks

Posted: 09/08/11 03:14 PM ET

Do we need more proof Washington's not working for middle class families? We got it once again this week.

The big banks and their army of lobbyists couldn't stop the creation of a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, so now they are trying to undermine its work, enlisting their Republican friends on the Senate Banking Committee to stop the nomination of Richard Cordray to lead the agency -- just to try to slow up the agency from doing its work.

It's outrageous -- and we've got to hold them accountable.

I'm starting a petition: Sign on now to call on the Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee to protect the interests of middle class families, to confirm a director for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and to let the agency do its work.

The goal of this new agency is to protect consumers by ending the tricks and traps and fine print banks have used to make it hard to understand and compare the costs of mortgages and credit cards. We need to hold Wall Street accountable for issuing the kinds of deceptive loans that nearly brought our economy to its knees in 2008.

I fought hard for these new protections and faced an army of lobbyists to hold the banks accountable. I am proud to have been part of the David vs. Goliath effort that led to the passage of this new agency. I was also proud to help set up the new agency over the past year as an assistant to the President.

We've made a lot of progress toward fixing the broken credit markets and preventing the next crisis, but the enemies of reform are at it again.

It's time for Republicans in the Senate to put the interests of hard working middle class families over the special interests of large financial institutions. We've got to speak out and make sure our fellow Americans know the truth.

Sign my petition to Senate Republicans now: Urge them to put the interests of families first and to allow this consumer protection agency to do its work!

We need clear rules to fix broken credit markets, protect consumers, and get our economy growing and creating jobs.

I've made my life's work fighting for middle class families and pushing back against special interests. I know what it means to live one pink slip or one health crisis away from economic disaster, because I did. That's why I'm working so hard to change things.

But I can't do it alone. I need you to stand with me, today. I need you to make this an issue that the Republicans can't duck.

Sign my petition to Senate Republicans now: Urge them to put the interests of families first and to allow this consumer protection agency to do its work!

And I'll make sure the petition and our signatures get delivered to the Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee.

Thanks so much for your help.

 
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
drkazmd65
Mom Taught me - Question Everything - Thanks Mom!
05:30 PM on 09/09/2011
I'm sure that the Republicans on the Senate Committee won't give two shakes that I signed the petition - but you got my signature anyway.

They, and unfortunately a sizable number of the alleged Democrats in the Senate AND Congress don't think they work for 'us' any more. Perhaps we should 'fire' them en masse?
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laughocrasy
LOL! We told 'em the wealth would trickle down!
02:57 PM on 09/09/2011
Ms. Warren, I don't know if you've recieved notice of this, but the paralytic immense difficulty in small businesses and individuals who are definitely qualifiable but cannot get loans from banks, even those with excellent scores, is causing a horribly misplaced frustration and anger that is having blame incorrectly placed directly on the Obama administration.

Those of us who know better know that the Senate Banking Comittee overrun with lobbyists for the banking industry spent millions to have changed the rules, inflicting awful regulations and restrictions after we bailed them out with tax payer dollars so they can hold on to the money instead of lending, which is why we bailed them out in the first place, so they would keep lending.

I'm a sales person in the new Home industry and I see it everyday, buyers who go through immense, impractical grief along with small businesses waiting weeks upon weeks for loans that should have closed much sooner, Cursing the President and talking about how we need to get a Republican in office so we can finally have a fair set of banking regulations, especially since this would also immensely increase jobs to return to the home industry.

Can you please get word to this administration that this needs to be put to rights at least in the eyes of our business communities so they can at least know where this comes from?
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dadw5boys
Disabled Vietnam Vet
09:30 PM on 09/12/2011
Big Banks withholding Loans pushes Small Businesses to borrow from the Loan Companys that charge Higher Interest Rates but are Own by the Banks Investment Arm !
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ennis438
01:22 PM on 09/09/2011
Don't hold your breath waiting for help from the GOP on anything helpful to anyone but their bankrollers.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Anthony James Brooks
12:21 PM on 09/09/2011
I'm a big fan of Mrs. Warren. She really does seem to care. However her efforts still resort to propping up a broken system. The only thing I will sign is a petition to end the Fed's charter.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Prapanna
12:17 PM on 09/09/2011
I am disgusted with the big banks. While they are borrowing money from the Fed at 2%, they are gouging consumers with egregiously high interest rates. Even people with perfect payment records are paying 19%, 24%, and even 29%! The big banks and their greed are sucking the lifeblood out of the economy. Shameful.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mdmccormick
I am tired of this BS
12:12 PM on 09/09/2011
Please forgo your Senate run and challenge the President in a primary, The country needs you NOW!
12:36 PM on 09/09/2011
Agree. Probably she will not win, but at least she will expose Obama, and hopefully galvanize democrats who have lost all hope.
11:29 AM on 09/09/2011
I just forwarded this info to 20 people!
11:18 AM on 09/09/2011
I don't get this. You may hear horror stories about banks every day but in my life I am middle class and banks have done nothing but make my life easy. I can direct deposit my checks pay my bills online write checks all for free. Its like with money so cheap right now on the morgage front you can get low intrest loans as well. I guess I do not really see what I am being protected from my bank has not charged me a fee for years and I use my debit card daily.
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cats530
16 Trillion To Banksters Per GAO Audit
06:35 PM on 09/09/2011
Yes, I love my bank too - my small healthy solvent local community bank. However, I have no love whatsoever for the Too Big To Fails who took taxpayer bailouts and secret loans and discount windows from the fed to the tune of 16 trillion dollars. I also do not support the Too Big To Fail's drug money laundering participation. I also do not support their willing participation in foreclosure fraud and robosigning, nor do I support their mark-to-unicorn accounting practices which disguise the fact that they are technically INSOLVENT. Anyone who keeps their money in these behemoth Too Big To Fails supports and condones all of the above criminality.
01:09 PM on 09/11/2011
If you bank with the big 5, you are being dupded. I'd put my money under a mattress before I'd do business with these crooks. Rent "Inside Job" and learn.
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kokobell616
No news is new news when old news is newsworthy.
07:26 AM on 09/09/2011
Agreed. There seems to be a huge margin of profit for these mega banks. To be able to pay off billions in bail-out money in a year or two. Smart investments? Shorting sovereign debts intended to increase interest payments? Truly slimy, underhanded bottom feeders that create turmoil, tension and strife for personal gains. Are the elected officials representing constitutes? Do the people of these republican districts really think that the banksters will not chop off the head of every citizen just so they can get into the pockets of a convulsing body to get the last penny.
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05:38 AM on 09/09/2011
Is there anyone alive in this country who still thinks that the Lewis Carroll Republicans will put the welfare of the country ahead of the short-term welfare of their political party?
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ONLYGRAYCLOUDS
Karma will get you
05:22 AM on 09/09/2011
Not too sure what this article is about but im always hearing about middle class families that need to saved and bailed out what about the poor families? dont they need help too ? even more help then middle class? dont little people matter too?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Blissful
ignorance is not
11:27 AM on 09/09/2011
Yes, it is just that the middle class pays the most in taxes.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
drkazmd65
Mom Taught me - Question Everything - Thanks Mom!
05:35 PM on 09/09/2011
The poor definately need help as well - for example - decent, productive, safe jobs that pay a living wage and have 'luxuries' like Health Care benefits.

The poor need to have more income and benefits before it really becomes profitible for the Banksters to exploit them more - payday loan places aside.

Currently, the biggest burden with the least correlated benefit on our citizens is directed at the tattered remnants of our Middle Class. Especially where relative Income tax burden and bank greed have been involved.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
psnyder325
Yep, I'm a Socialist. Deal.
04:50 AM on 09/09/2011
How about a Sanders/Warren Presidential ticket? Two TRUE Progressives instead of the Republican currently in the White House.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
LivToSki
Half a truth is often a great lie
11:54 PM on 09/08/2011
Signed and facebooked! Thank you Ms. Warren for all your hard work!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Anym
Obama is GoldmanSachs
11:22 PM on 09/08/2011
We need a campaign to put you in charge of the SEC.
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SamEllison
I feel so clean!
03:45 AM on 09/09/2011
That would need Senate confirmation,
junior Senator from Mass would be better.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Sarah Trickey
love, luck and lollipops. Narf!
11:17 PM on 09/08/2011
signed. Thank you, Ms. Warren