Supporters of Proposition 200, the deceptively named Payday Loan Reform Act, have gone to extreme lengths to confuse voters about the initiative.
Now they are trying something new: attacking themselves in radio and television commercials.
Prop. 200 was put on the ballot by the payday loan operators. It would eliminate a provision in state law that allows payday loan firms to operate only until 2010. If Prop. 200 passes, payday loan firms will be here to stay.
There are some superficial changes to how loans are handled and a slight reduction in the allowable interest rate. But all of the “real reform” in the proposition could happen today, if the payday lenders wanted to make the changes. The proposition is needed only to allow the companies to continue operating.
That’s pretty confusing. But to make it even more confusing, payday lenders are running radio and TV ads attacking payday lenders – and paid for by payday lenders.
One version of the ad starts with a narrator saying, “Arizonans agree: Payday lenders who take advantage of hardworking families need to be stopped.” And it ends with the narrator saying, “It’s time we send payday lenders a message.”
Wow, wounds great. Let’s get those payday loan guys!
The ads end with the narrator giving the obligatory “Paid for by Yes on 200, major funding provided by Arizona Community Financial Services Association.”
So who is the Arizona Community Financial Services Association? It’s the Arizona arm of a national group that represents and lobbies for payday lenders.
If this ad weren’t so misleading it would be funny. Payday loan operators know they are unpopular, so they gin up an ad and attack themselves – and suggest a solution that would actually help them.
Don’t fall for it.
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ABOUT THIS BLOGGER
Mark Kimble is associate editor and editor of the Editorial Page for the Tucson Citizen.
COMMENTS
Barack Obama claims he's for equal pay for women, but women working in his Senate office earn an average of $9,000 less than men, while women in John McCain's Senate office earn an average of nearly $2,000 more than men.
The Average Annual Salary For Male Employees Employed In The Senate Office Of Sen. Barack Obama Was $54,379.16 compared to $45,152.57 for female employees. (Legistorm Website, www.legistorm.com, Accessed 9/1/08)
Of The Five Highest Paid Obama Staffers, Only One Is Female. (Legistorm Website, www.legistorm.com, Accessed 9/1/08)
Of The 20 Highest Paid Obama Staffers, Only 7 Are Female. (Legistorm Website, www.legistorm.com, Accessed 9/1/08)
The Average Annual Salary For Male Employees Employed In The Senate Office Of Sen. John McCain Was $53,936.15 compared to $55,878.36 for female employees. (Legistorm Website, www.legistorm.com, Accessed 9/1/08)
Of The Five Highest Paid McCain Staffers, Three Are Female. (Legistorm Website, www.legistorm.com, Accessed 9/1/08)
Of The 20 Highest Paid McCain Staffers, 13 Are Female. (Legistorm Website, www.legistorm.com, Accessed 9/1/08)
"In short, these statistics suggest that John McCain is more than fair with his female employees, while Barack Obama -- at the expense of the women who work for him -- quietly perpetuates the very same pay-equity divide that he loudly denounces. Of all people, the Democratic standard bearer should understand that equal pay begins at home." -Seattle Post-Intelligencer