Bank lobbyists still control Washington

Even on my birth day, I feel the need to express my outrage.

I am getting soooooooooo tired of hearing how the lobbyist still control our Congressional representatives in Washington. After you read this article at posted on CNBC' website today you'll immediately understand my outrage of the day.

Here's the first few lines of that article. It reads:

"They may be held in low esteem around the nation, but the country’s largest banks still wield considerable influence in Washington. The banks have made it difficult for Congressional Democrats and the White House to give stretched homeowners a stronger hand in negotiating lower monthly payments on mortgages and to prevent credit card companies from imposing higher fees and interest rates.

Having won some early skirmishes by teaming with Republican allies, the banks now appear to have the upper hand and may wind up killing — or at least substantially diluting — both pro-consumer measures."

Once again big bank lobbyists are linning up their Republican pals and some conservative Democrats in Congress and in the Senate to radically dilute several key provisions contained in an upcoming bill (the legislation is called the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights). This legislation would give credit card issuers more than a year to make changes designed to limit the massive fees and charges all the banks currently levy on consumers. And they're winning the battle.

Never mind that the industry collected over 15 BILLION dollars in such fees last year. Taxpayers bailed out the banks in October and now the same taxpayers will be providing the very income the banks will then use to pay down the TARP money they all received. How completely absurd is that?

I once took a negotiating course that taught me several things about the process but what I remember most from that seminar is this: NEVER give up anything without receiving something in return. What are we as taxpayers going to get back? Nothing. We provided the initial bailout funding and we're now also the main source of bank profits(record profits in some cases. I.E.: Bof A).

What's more offensive is that banks are borrowing money at near 0 percent then charging customers usuriously high rates to borrow that same money back. It's the American Taxpayer bailing out the banks and the bank lobbyist making sure they have Congress including the Senate water down the very bills intended to give borrowers a needed break in these impossibly difficult times.

Democrat and Republican Representatives and Senators are being targeted but it is the Republicans in the Senate that are most willing and prepared to help the lobbyists get what they want. Republicans ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS. Throw the bastards out!!!!

The original bill was introduced months ago. It was to limit many of the ugly practices used by lenders to jack up interest rates by 50% or more, increase fees with only a mere 30 day notice and generally make all our lives even more miserable in the process. Unfortunately, the bill doesn't take effect until mid 2010 so the banks have plenty of time to adjust to the new rules. In the meantime, the banks are raising rates and fees on just about every customer and only giving them 30 day notices. How absurd is that? Lobbyists are making headway in getting the bill watered down to nothing and may even succeed in delaying its implementation until mid 2010 despite the efforts of some lawmakers to accelerate the process.

Enough said. Want to have your voice heard by the banks, call them and demand they lower your interest rate or threaten to stop paying them. Yes that will hurt your credit but if you're unemployed, underemployed or just plain upside down on your debt to income ratio, bail out now, stop paying and wait for the bank to call with an offer to settle for pennies on the dollar. Choose to help yourself first, not the banks.

What do you think?