The financial and economic crisis of 2008 was in no small part the result of an out-of-control mortgage lending industry. New rules for that industry – rules developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) under the Dodd-Frank financial reform law of 2010 – are now in effect. Their arrival is extremely good news for homeowners, aspiring homeowners, and the country as a whole.
“In arbitration, there is no publicly accountable judge, jury, or right to an appeal. The arbitrators do not have to follow the facts or the law, and there is no public review of decisions to ensure the arbitrator got it right. Moreover, contracts typically name the arbitration firm that must be used—the one preferred by the company.”
Joint letter urges Senators to cosponsor Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s bill, which would bar employers from using credit checks in hiring and promotion decisions. “Not only does this practice discriminate against the long-term unemployed, it has a disparate impact on communities of color and people with disabilities and constitutes an unwarranted invasion into job seekers’ personal lives.”
“The OCC and FDIC got it right in standing up for borrowers who have been taken advantage of,” said Lisa Donner, AFR’s Executive Director. “Now it’s up to the Federal Reserve to follow the OCC’s and FDIC’s lead with the institutions it regulates.”
“Legislation under consideration in the Financial Services Committee would harm the CFPB’s ability to protect the public in a variety of ways . We urge you to oppose each of these bills and any similar proposals designed to hobble the CFPB and prevent it from doing its job.”
Late fees down by an average of $6; more people making above-the-minimum payments; far fewer young adults signing up for credit cards in the first place – these are some of the results of a landmark 2009 law, according to a new report issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
While many in Washington would rather stand pat or turn back the clock, Americans are strikingly united in wanting more financial reform, not less, according to a national survey of likely voters conducted this summer.
With the confirmation battle ended, the Columbus Dispatch paused to reflect on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s accomplishments. “It’s off to a really good start,” AFR’s Lisa Donner told the Dispatch’s Jessica Wehrman. “But there’s a whole lot of work left to be done.”
“Under Rich Cordray’s leadership, the Bureau has begun to make a difference for consumers. Now it’s here to stay. It can continue its important work, with its authority and independence intact. That’s terrific news for American families, and for the American economy.”
AFR joined more than 160 public interest groups in urging the Senate to confirm Richard Cordray as Director of the CFPB.