House passes bankruptcy bill

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Collins works on alternative; blasts D bill

California Democrat explains support
She added the bill would benefit her constituents who "work hard, pay their bills, live within their means." They "don't appreciate having to pay higher costs for everything because there are Americans who abuse bankruptcy provisions that exist now that create loopholes. And they are absolutely forgiven for mounting up tens of thousands of dollars of debt so they can go off and do it again."

Tauscher mentioned that she had been "threatened" by members of her own party for supporting the bill. She said it is "pathetic" to think "that we should be attacking each other. Let's keep our eye on the real foes here: the Republican majority who don't write good legislation and don't provide the minority the chance to offer alternatives."

Tauscher's Democratic colleague from across San Francisco Bay, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, said Thursday, "It's a terrible bill." Lofgren noted that Republicans in the Rules Committee would not permit her to offer an amendment that would have protected "individuals whose debt is provably tied to overwhelming medical expenses."

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Lofgren also said that the bill's state median income means test would hurt her constituents in Santa Clara County. While the California median individual income is $32,000, the median income for a family of four in Santa Clara County is about $80,000 (compared to about $68,000 for the state). The median-priced Santa Clara County home costs $650,000. Some people in the county are struggling even at $80,000.

"If Nancy Pelosi were speaker of the House this bill would not be on the floor," Lofgren said.

Some Democrats frustrated
The imminent enactment of the bill has left some grassroots Democrats frustrated and determined to exact retribution.

“Clearly there are some Democrats and many Republicans who place the interests of corporations above those of citizens,” said David Swanson, an activist with Progressive Democrats of America, who organized the anti-bankruptcy bill web site, DebtSlavery.org.

Swanson said, "Sen. Reid has been terrific on some issues" — he cited his attempt to preserve judicial filibusters — "but absolutely inexcusable" on bankruptcy.

He said "a lot of people are going to remember" how Democratic senators and House members voted on the bankruptcy bill and predicted that "absolutely" there will be primary challengers in 2006 to some of the Democrats who voted for the bill. "If we’re not willing to challenge Democrats who act as Republicans, then we’re not going to have a Democratic Party worth fighting for."

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