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Congressman Alcee Hastings: Bribed by Cash Advance Business?
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The U.S. Congress operates on wink-wink arrangements and campaign efforts. Therefore possibly it is no real surprise that the pay day loan industry — the $46 billion-a-year company that keeps numerous low-income Americans locked in a hopeless monetary arrangement so that you can spend their bills — is attempting to grease the palms of legislators.
What exactly is astonishing is that 11 people in Congress are now being accused of accepting money in trade for useful legislation and votes — i.e., bribes. One of Southern Florida’s biggest congressional players that are democratic been targeted by these allegations — Congressman Alcee Hastings.
This week, the D.C.-based Campaign for Accountability mailed a letter to your workplace of Congressional Ethics requesting a study to the lawmakers on if they broke “House and unlawful legislation. as first reported by our pals over during the Florida Bulldog” Hastings, whoever region includes Broward and a swath of Palm Beach, is regarded as two Democrats to really make the list.
The details: payday execs and PACs have actually hosed straight straight down particular users of Congress with cash. Based on a study released the other day by AlliedProgress.org, 11 users of Congress received efforts from industry players then sponsored legislation that will benefit the loan business that is payday. Yes, companies usually donate funds to legislators who they wish will help their ideals — but in cases like this, the CfA alleges, the timing suggests that the legislators’ actions had been the direct consequence of efforts. Tit for tat.
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” The lending that is payday preys on a few of the most susceptible users of our society, intentionally plunging them as a cycle of financial obligation so that you can experience high profits,” Campaign for Accountability Executive Director Anne L. Weismann had written when you look at the page. “the theory that people in Congress are dealing the effectiveness of their workplaces to aid unscrupulous payday lenders avoid poorly required oversight and legislation in substitution for campaign efforts undermines general public self-confidence in the organization in general.”
The AlliedProgress.org report states that between 2011 and 2015, Hastings — a vet that is 23-year of home — received $38,500 from the payday industry. When you look at the page to workplace of Congressional Ethics, the Campaign for Accountability’s letter spotlights two specific circumstances where in fact the timing of payday-linked efforts and Hastings’ sponsorship of bills seems problematic.
In-may 2013, Hastings co-sponsored a residence bill that could have permitted payday lenders to duck legislation through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 8 weeks earlier in the day, Hastings had gotten a look for $2,500 from Ian MacKechnie, an executive at payday loan provider Amscot Financial. Another contribution, this time for $500, according to the letter in June, MacKechnie have Hastings.
Within the summer time of 2014, Hastings received $2,500 from a payday lending PAC called money United states Global Inc. Three days later on, on July 10, 2014, Hastings co-sponsored a home bill that will have place the kibosh for a Department of Justice probe taking a look at banking institutions and their links to shady payday financing task.
On New Times reached out to Hastings’ D.C. office for comment tuesday. We now haven’t heard straight straight straight back, but we will upgrade this post if required.
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