Local News
Suspensions
Cancer, No Insurance
drawn into the criminal justice system –
where, again, the families are not listened
to, but rather disrespected and shamed.
As it happens, federal officials on Tues-
day released more statistics from the data
they have been gathering for years explicit-
ly linking a student’s race to suspensions,
expulsions, and the criminal justice system.
But the question remains, given added
urgency for families like the Tarvers: How
to dismantle the school to prison pipeline —
for good?
‘Debunking,’ Denial
Over the generations, finding a way to
turn around zero-tolerance school discipline
policies and other factors that push Black
kids out of schools and into the law enforce-
ment system has proven a tough nut to
crack.
Experts say that’s because each student’s
case is personal and schools won’t always
release information about their disciplinary
patterns.
Another stumbling block is denial, includ-
ing the American Psychological Associa-
tion’s 2006 report “debunking” the link
between school discipline and the eventual
incarceration of students.
Meanwhile, the Obama Administration’s
2011 Positive School Discipline initiative
was announced last July after one of the
largest studies of its kind in U.S. history
showed 60 percent of nearly a million Texas
school kids were suspended or expelled
over a period of six years – including 83
percent of Black male students (compared
to 59 percent of white male students) and 70
percent of Black female students (compared
to 37 percent of white female students).
“Only 3 percent of the disciplinary actions
were for conduct for which state law man-
dates suspensions and expulsions; the
remainder of disciplinary actions was made
at the discretion of school officials, primari-
ly in response to violations of local schools’
conduct codes,” the study said.
Overall, virtually every study reviewed by
The Skanner News for this series indicated
PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED
continued from page 1
Michael Wilson, the News editor of The Pointer, the University of Wisconsin-
Stevens Point student newspaper talks with renowned journalist Amy
Goodman, host of “Democracy Now!” before the Physicians for a National
Healthcare Program Western Washington Chapter’s 7th Annual Public
Meeting March 3rd at Kane Hall on the University of Washington
campus. Michael who has cancer and no insurance spoke with Ms.
Goodman before her keynote address about, “What needs to be done
now for health and social justice.”
See SCHOOLS on page 4
Norm
continued from page 1
much to the disappointment of lawmakers
on the spending panel, who had controlled
earmarks and awarded themselves an out-
sized share.
Dicks earned a reputation as an inside
to maintain the comity and spirit of biparti-
sanship that is the hallmark of the appropri-
ations committee.”
Dicks said he’s particularly proud of the
work he’s done to protect the waters of
Puget Sound and Hood
Canal and help restore the
downtowns of Tacoma and
Bremerton, the main cities
in his district. And he said
his most recent term has
been very productive.
“We had a great year in
2011, with winning the
tanker competition,” Dicks
R-Kentucky said of the U.S. Air Force
decision last year to have
Boeing build its new fleet
of aerial refueling tankers.
The $35 billion contract was a big plus for
the Seattle-area economy.
He was known not only for looking after
his district’s interests, but also for using his
clout to benefit the rest of Washington state.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said Dicks
was “an invaluable ally to Seattle, and he
has left his mark across our state.”
Dicks’ 6th Congressional District includ-
ed many blue-collar towns across Puget
Sound, west of Seattle, and stretched to the
Pacific Ocean. It did not significantly
change after last year’s redistricting
process, and Dicks was expected to be easi-
ly re-elected this year.
His retirement could provide an opening
for Republicans, who might have a chance
in a district they haven’t seriously contested
for in years.
“I think it’s a seat that the Democrats
ought to retain. I think we’re going to have
to put forward a strong and credible replace-
ment. Whoever that is, is going to have big
shoes to fill,” Kaushik said.
Dicks was a guard and linebacker at the
University of Washington, playing on a
Rose Bowl team in 1961. He graduated with
a degree in political science in 1963, then
got a law degree from UW in 1968.
Before being elected to the House, Dicks
served for eight years on Magnuson’s staff.
“Maggie was the lion of the Senate, and
Norm became the lion of the House. He
fought tirelessly on issues like bringing the
tanker home for the Boeing Company. He
was tremendously skilled at working both
sides of the aisle,” said Dwight Pelz, chair-
man of the state Democratic Party.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., called
Dicks an “institution in Washington poli-
tics.”
Sen. Patty Murray, also a Democrat, said
Dicks was “our state’s quarterback here in
Congress. ... Norm is the guy who loves
Washington state more than life, who would
do anything to defend it, and who works
everyone to the bone to make sure the fam-
ilies he represents are taken care of.”
Gov. Chris Gregoire said Dicks “will
leave behind a legacy that is unmatched.”
Dicks said he was ready for the change.
“I’m going to see more Husky games,
basketball and football, and do a little bit
more fishing.”
sumer financial circumstances once bank
payday loans are made. The letter and its
full list of signers is available at: http://rsp-
nsb.li/vdfUSO
In part the letter advised, “Ultimately,
payday loans erode the assets of bank cus-
federal regulators: Federal Reserve, Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Currently, Wells Fargo Bank, US Bank,
Fifth Third Bank and Regions Bank use a
system previously developed by storefront
payday lenders. As banks market the
loan as a short-term cash advance for
checking account customers, the
predatory product typically leads to a
long-term cycle of high-cost debt –
just like a storefront payday loan.
Banks offering payday loans repay
themselves first. The entire loan and
its accompanying fee are taken direct-
ly from the account as soon as a cus-
tomer’s paycheck or benefits check is
deposited. Typically, banks charge $10 per
hundred borrowed; with an average loan of
only 10 days, the annual percentage rate for
bank payday loans is 365 percent. Accord-
ing to research the Center for Responsible
Lending, bank payday borrowers are in debt
an average 175 days of the year. Social
Security recipients are especially vulnera-
ble, making up one quarter of bank payday
borrowers.
Once bank payday loans are repaid, the
likelihood of accounts falling short of funds
for regular purchases runs high for cus-
tomers with little or no cushion in their
checking accounts. With an average over-
draft fee of $34, multiple fees can be
charged to these customers without their
knowledge – until after fees are assessed
when a bank statement arrives.
The connection between bank payday and
overdraft fees is akin to that of the knee
bone’s connection to the leg bone – finan-
cially they affect the same consumer. No
one needs or wants a product that devastates
their finances and builds debt instead of
wealth. Consumer lending shouldn’t make
anyone financially crippled.
‘I have rarely had the chance to
work with someone of his
decency, strong work ethic,
jovial character, and honesty’
--Rep. Harold Rogers,
player, popular with Democrats and Repub-
licans alike on the clubby panel.
“I have rarely had the chance to work with
someone of his decency, strong work ethic,
jovial character, and honesty,” said Rep.
Harold Rogers, a Kentucky Republican.
“Norm has never hesitated to work together
Taylor reported from Washington.
Banks
continued from page 1
“We are so pleased that there is finally a
regulator, the CFPB, whose primary respon-
sibility and commitment is to ensuring that
reasonable rules of the road are in place to
reform harmful and reckless financial prac-
tices” said Borne. “Today’s typical bank
overdraft practices remain in dire need
of that reform.”
Sarah Ludwig, executive director of
the New-York based Neighborhood
Economic Development Advocacy
Project, drew a connection between
costly overdraft fees and the emer-
gence of bank payday loans. As
lenders sat nearby, Ms. Ludwig pre-
sented a letter with signatures from
more than 250 national, state and local
organizations from across the country call-
ing for immediate federal action to stop
bank payday loans.
The list of supporters included representa-
tives of religious, civil rights, labor, higher
education, fair housing, consumers and
community activists. Together, these organ-
izations warned against the looming
prospect of overdraft fees worsening con-
Drawing a connection
between costly overdraft fees
and the emergence of bank
payday loans
tomers and, rather than promote savings,
make checking accounts unsafe for many
customers. They lead to uncollected debt,
bank account closures, and greater numbers
of unbanked Americans. All of these out-
comes are inconsistent with consumer pro-
tection and harm the safety and soundness
of financial institutions.”
The letter was also mailed to three other
Charlene Crowell is a communications
manager with the Center for Responsible
Lending. She can be reached at: Char-
lene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.
March 7, 2012 The Seattle Skanner Page 3