Bill Changing Credit Card Rules Is Sent to Obama With Gun Measure Included

[cal04]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/us/politics/21cards.html?_r=1&ref=politics

Congress on Wednesday sent President Obama a set of new rules governing credit card companies, completing three consumer-related measures that Democrats had raced to have signed into law by Memorial Day.

But the credit card victory came at a cost that angered some backers of the legislation: approval of an unrelated provision allowing visitors to national parks and wildlife refuges to carry loaded weapons if they are otherwise licensed to possess guns.

Congressional leaders and administration officials decided not to contest the gun measure propelled by Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, to avoid delaying credit card legislation that the White House wanted as an important symbol of the administration’s push for economic relief for consumers.

Final House passage of the credit card bill by a margin of 361 to 64 followed Congressional approval earlier this week of an increase in federal resources to pursue financial fraud and another measure that would make it easier for financially pressed homeowners to seek changes in their mortgages. Mr. Obama signed those bills on Wednesday and was planning to act quickly on the credit legislation.

“These are important reforms to protect consumers and to bring some common sense, rationality into our financial system,” Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, said Wednesday.

[billyoc]

1. Fastest bill signing ever.

[mdavies013]

2. We must protect consumers from the evil credit card companies that lurk in national parks...

Are you kidding me?

[Hoopla Phil]

3. Great to hear!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. Probably best not to go into the National Parks without a gun now.

Welcome to the Wild Fucking West revisited. :(

[katandmoon]

5. Fuck you and your supporters, NRA

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. I am incensed. I guess it is the NRA and the gun nuts who run this country.

Utterly disgusted.

[benEzra]

7. "Congress Overturns Reagan Rule Blocking States From Setting Own Gun Policies."

If it were put that way instead of the current scaremongering, would you be as incensed and disgusted?

Under current law, it's a felony for me to so much as drive cross the Blue Ridge Parkway with a gun in the car, even though I am licensed to carry by the state (and had to go through a lengthy approval process in order to do so).

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. Yes, I would. I am one of those total anti-gun people - sorry.

I would be happy if all of the gun folks would just find a little island to live on and crow about their hoard of weapons. Then again, I feel the same way about smokers. perhaps a different island, or perhaps the same one, as they see fit. Feeling quite uncivil and unaccommodating tonight.

[benEzra]

9. I respect your opinion.

I am glad I do have the right to choose for myself, though, and I have chosen differently. Live and let live, and all that. But you certainly don't have anything to fear from the guns in our gun safe.

Have a good evening! :hi:

[NRaleighLiberal]

10. Thanks! The last 8 years...and my recent layoff...have me a bit raw!

I appreciate your understanding. I think part of it is I grew up in New England in a very liberal area with guns not a part of our lives at all. And a dad who chain smoked and died from a stroke. Amazing how we are influenced by our early years!