Fighting for Fairness
Payday Loans Gouge Consumers
SEIU members know that high-interest loans
devastate low-income families. Payday loans,
typically gouging consumers with 500% interest,
have been responsible for trapping working families
into spiraling and sometimes inescapable debt.
Payday lenders had successfully blocked any efforts
to provide protections for working families for
years. We worked in broad coalition with legislative
leaders and other Oregonians - consumer groups,
faith based organizations, and hunger and homeless
advocates - to successfully pass a 36% interest cap
on all consumer loans (HB 2871). This legislation
will strengthen families by ensuring loans are
both accessible and affordable when families face
tough times.
"Payday loans are
important to me because
when my paycheck isn't
enough to pay my bills for
themonth, sometimes I
need a payday loan. Now
thatthe interest rate is
capped it has stopped the
vicious cycle of having to
take out a loan to cover
my loans and I can pay it
offthefirsttime."
Kristie Krinock
Indepent Living
Skills Instructor,
Alvord Taylor
Health Care a Priority for Pro-Worker Legislature
From the first day of session, legislative leadership set the tone for health
care and related issues. In an unprecedented move, six committees were
established to focus on various aspects of health care. Two health care
discussions rose to the top.
Affordable Accessible Health Care
The Oregon Health Fund (SB 329), coordinated by Senators Ben Westlund
(D-Redmond) and Alan Bates (D-Ashland) is viewed as the vehicle to pass
comprehensive health care reform. The Senate Special Committee on Health
Care Reform dealt with SB 329 and the extensive list of health care issues within
the bill. Legislators and advocates realized that to achieve statewide health care
reform, more time and collaboration is needed. In the end, the passage of SB 329
will result in the outline for developing statewide health care reform in the 2009
legislative session. SEIU will play a major role in the process.
Insuring All Oregon Children
Governor Kulongoski stepped forward early in 2007 with his plan to insure
Oregon's uninsured children. The plan consisted of an 84.5C increase in cigarette
taxes to bring an additional 100,000 children into the Oregon Health Plan. The
plan was contentious from the beginning and in spite of multiple votes, we could
not garner the 3/5th's majority in the house or senate necessary for passage. The
Governor and Legislative Leadership made the decision to refer "Healthy Kids to
the ballot rather than let the policy die. The tobacco industry broke all spending
records killing the ballot measure.
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