Fw: parfumgigi@... Every fair-minded American should find this

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Martha Murdock, DirectorNational Silicone Implant FoundationDallas, Texas Headquarters

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Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 2:45 AM

Subject: From: parfumgigi@... "Every fair-minded American should find this

Subj: [sBI-Talk] "Every fair-minded American should find this offensive and unconscionable," Date: 3/4/01 10:16:13 PM Central Standard Time From: parfumgigi@... Reply-to: SBI-Talk SBI-Talk CC: Cow22girl@..., lorenn@..., jussta@..., UBCDan@..., SWEETCAROLINELV@..., coleah@..., Lv7dove7@..., Dowlied@..., ilena@..., jwootton@..., janmarh@..., MAM-NSIF@..., myrlj@..., PEEPERLY@..., RAve456201@..., implants@..., weedsworld@..., NEspina@..., kkjohnston@..., LPar911@..., GoodbyeEarl364@..., REABEEE@..., SLIM2RB@... House passes bill to overhaul bankruptcy laws March 1, 2001 Web posted at: 4:47 PM EST (2147 GMT) WASHINGTON (AP) -- Legislation making it harder for people to use bankruptcy to get out of credit-card debts began a speeded-up journey back to the White House on Thursday. Vetoed late last year by then-President Clinton, bankruptcy overhaul was the first major bill to come to a vote in the new Congress. The House voted 306-108 for it Thursday, with majority Republicans solidly in support and Democrats split. An expectation that President Bush will sign the measure has boosted momentum for passage of the most sweeping overhaul of bankruptcy laws in 20 years. It zoomed through the House drafting process despite new government data that shows personal bankruptcies have declined in recent years. The legislation's progress has been only slightly slower in the Senate, where the two parties have a 50-50 split, and Democrats recently blocked a GOP effort to rush it through. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday, 10-8, to approve a parallel bill and send it to the full Senate, which may vote next week. Some Democratic opponents criticized the House's priorities, saying campaign finance reform, prescription drug coverage for seniors or minimum wage increases should be more pressing. The legislation has been pushed by the banking and retail credit industries, with donations to federal candidates and the political parties from finance and credit card companies totaling $9.2 million during the 2000 election cycle. Consumer groups, unions and groups representing women and children oppose the measure. Bush's biggest donor during his campaign was MBNA Corp., one of the world's largest credit card companies. MBNA gave $237,675 to Bush's presidential campaign, making it his largest individual contributor, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group that studies campaign finance. The bankruptcy bill was passed overwhelmingly last year, then was vetoed in December by Clinton on grounds it would hurt ordinary people and working families who fall on hard times. Supporters of the legislation contend it is needed to stem a tide of bankruptcy filings and abuse of the court system. They say bankruptcy abuse creates a hidden tax of about $400 a year on every American family through higher interest rates passed on by consumer credit businesses and other charges. The legislation "strikes the proper balance" between debtors and creditors, Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., said in debate before the vote. "It is a good bill and it protects consumers," Weldon said. Said Rep. Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee: "Bankruptcy should never be an item of financial planning." Democratic opponents maintained it would hurt families hit by job losses, catastrophic medical expenses or other unforeseeable hardships that push them over the edge financially, especially amid the economic slowdown that has made layoffs frequent. Some Democrats also said the measure would make thousands of mothers and children owed support by bankrupt fathers take a back seat to credit card companies in collecting the money. "The American people should know that a debtor can live in a mansion in Florida worth millions ... and not worry," said Rep. Delahunt, D-Mass. But, he added, "If you are barely making it, ... woe is you: Those credit card companies will be able to chase you forever." "Every fair-minded American should find this offensive and unconscionable," Delahunt declared. New data