Ohio Legislature Attempting To Slither Proposed Industry-Friendly Debt Settlement Statute Into Law?

In Columbus, Ohio, a column in The Cleveland Plain Dealer describes "a House-passed bill, pending in the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, to let "debt settlement" companies charge Ohioans fees of up to 20 cents per $1 of debt." Reportedly, the Governor and the current state treasurer (and now attorney general-elect) have serious reservations about this proposed law, passed in the state house of representatives by a 93-0 vote, and is opposed by the current state attorney general.

The columnist warns:(1)

• The bill is pending at a dangerous time of year - for consumers - at the Statehouse. Legislators soon begin a post-election "lame-duck" session. Hot-button bills slither through lame-duck sessions because retiring or defeated ("lame duck") legislators, who can pass laws through Dec. 31, won't face voters again.

For more, see Debt 'rescue' bill would charge Ohioans for something they can do themselves.

(1) According to the Plain Dealer columnist, Thomas Suddes:

• The Ohio General Assembly may prove again what a judge ruled long ago: "No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session."