Update [2005-9-9 22:9:59 by dwahzon]:HELP Katrina Victims with Bankruptcy Law Amendment NOW... edited the title
My friend, Ira, has been telling me about the bankruptcy law and the Conyers/Nadler/Lee Amendment that has been proposed for a few days now. Well, let's get on it!
Don't know what the Bankruptcy law is or Conyers/Nadler/Lee amendment is about?
Here's a very straightforward explanation of the new bankruptcy law about to go into effect and the horrendous impact that it WILL have on the Katrina victims by Loren Steffy of the Houston Chronicle. (BTW, my friend, Ira, lives in Houston and his phone is his friend and weapon.)
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3345871
So my friend, Ira, has been keeping me posted on what he's doing and encouraging me (and others) on how to follow through on this.
Bottom Line: the Conyers/Nadler/Lee amendment is a step that will be TREMENDOUSLY helpful to the Katrina victims and won't cost the federal government anything but the opportunity to play ogre.
More info below the jump...
Update [2005-9-9 22:35:22 by dwahzon]: direct from Ira: One thing I need to make sure that is understood though, is the fact that the Nadler/Conyers/Lee Amendment is intended purely as another Hurricane Relief Action.
I believe the right would like to characterize this Amendment as an effort to undermine the original Bankruptcy bill.
It is not. I understand that many agree that would be a great result but I truly believe that the Congressional authors of this Amendment do NOT want it characterized as that; but rather as a Katrina Relief effort to give the evacuees another year to get their lives in order.
The local news organizations I spoke with that oppose this Amendment made it clear that they believe that it will delay the effect of ALL filings under the new Bankruptcy Bill until October 17, 2006 rather than 2005. The opponents want the public to believe that it will affect all new filings
when in fact it will only apply to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
[end of update]
I thought I'd share my friend Ira's posts about what he has done and what he's encouraging me to do... and I'm encouraging you to do as well.
2005-09-08 13:00:37
Just called Houston, TX Congressman Coulbertson and Senator Cornyn's office about the Conyers/Nadler/Lee bill. Neither of their office's legislative assistants knew or seemed to care much about this amendment to the bankruptcy bill.
Their Washington desk just responded the same way, don't know don't care. My next call will be to the Houston Chronicle to let them know that my representatives don't seem to care much about this issue. I will check with Sheila Jackson Lee's office and see what they suggest. Apparently this amendment might delay the effective date of October 17 so will be possibly get short circuited before coming up for a vote.
2005-09-08 21:33:53
Did anyone here contact their Congressman today regarding the Conyers/Nadler/Lee Bankruptcy amendment, written to exculde hurricane victims?
2005-09-08 21:50:31
Al Franken on Air America was asking us to call our Congresspeople and ask them, no demand that they support this Bankruptcy Amendment. He had a Harvard law school professor who teaches bankruptcy and the UCC on the air this a.m. Our sorry Houston Congressmen Coulberson and DeLay did not know and didn't care about it. The Houston Chronicle who should care about such things since up to 80,000 evacuees plan on staying in Houston didn't seem to care when I called them. We should shame every gulf coast Congressman and Senator that doesn't support this bill.
2005-09-09 14:17:30
Have seen nothing about efforts in our communities to help Sheila Jackson Lee et al with the Bankruptcy Amendment. The Houston Chronicle relented last night and their lead story in the business section by Loren Steffy wrote a positive article called "Law to Deal second low to victims of hurricanes". We need to get this in every Republican Congressman's hands with the message Shame On You if you oppose the Conyers/Nadler/Lee Bankruptcy Amendment.
2005-09-09 14:53:40
You might want to contact your local newspaper and speak with their DC news dept or their business editor and tell them that Loren Steffy at the Houston Chronicle just scooped them on this important story. Write a letter to your editor or call into a conservative talk show.
You might also contact Lee, Conyers or Nadler's legislative assistants and ask what they want us to do. Contact your own congressperson's office and insist on speaking with the legislative assistant and see if they have even bothered to read this amendment yet. If not, Lee or Nadler's office will be happy to fax/email it to them. Then let your local tv station or news dept know of the rep's ignorance and lack of attention to this important piece of legislation given that they just spent $51 billion yesterday. Just a suggestion.
2005-09-09 16:40:27
Thanks... we are the media. I suggest we speak with the legislative aides in your reps' offices and if they don't have the Amendment to get Nadler/Lee/Conyers' office to send it. If they respond, 'Fine, no comment', reply 'That's fine I have recorded your comments and will be playing it back to the local news rooms, tv, radio, newspaper and letting them know of your indifference.' Unfortunately we have to play hardball even though this Amendment has moral/humanitarian implications.
Let your Congressperson know that unlike the $51 billion they spent yesterday, this vote is a free ride, is good PR and costs the government zero (maybe only their bank contributors and lobbyist).
2005-09-09 17:45:30
My suggestion: tell any resistant Congressperson that we intend to Shame them into voting for this Amendment. We will let the press know that our Congressperson thinks it's OK to spend $51 billion for the hurricane evacuees but won't stand up to their lobbyists and contributors to make a simple vote to delay the Bankrupcy Bill ONLY for the evacuees for one year, which costs the federal govt, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
If they tell you the delay applies to all Americans filing after Oct 18 let them know that is BS and that we will have Congresswoman's Lee's office provide the exact language of the Amendment which they will need to bother and read.
As you can tell, my friend Ira is persistent, focused and right. And he's done all this while still volunteering at the Astrodome and coordinating delivery of supplies there as well as his day job. Time for you and I to pitch in too.
If you want to read more of my friend Ira's wisdom, he frequents the blog at Democracy Cell Project