Some Ohio signatures tossed
September 18, 2008 | Columbus Dispatch, industry, media coverage, regulation | Comments (0)Looks like a disproportionate number of signatures are being tossed in Ohio. This could complicated things. From the story:
The payday lenders’ group, Ohioans for Financial Freedom, turned in about 422,000 signatures two weeks ago, far more than the 241,366 valid signatures needed to make the ballot. Those names must come from 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.
However, most of Ohio’s largest county elections boards are reporting that at least half of the group’s signatures are invalid. In Montgomery County, where 61 percent of names were tossed out, elections officials are forwarding evidence to the county prosecutor for possible criminal charges.
The Pundit will be talking to people in Ohio today to get the real scoop. We’ll keep you updated.
But no complaints about the four other initiatives
September 8, 2008 | Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, industry, media coverage, states | Comments (0)Apparently there will be five ballot initiatives in Ohio. Only the payday lending initiative has been singled out by advocy groups for excessive whining. From the article:
Ohioans won’t vote on mandatory paid sick days on Nov. 4, but they will decide the fate of a payday-lenders law, a proposed casino near Wilmington and continuation of the “Clean Ohio” environmental and conservation program.
Those three statewide issues, plus two others — property owners’ water rights and earlier deadlines for citizen-submitted state ballot issues — are set to appear on the fall ballot. Friday was the deadline to withdraw ballot issues.
Ohio AG upheld
September 5, 2008 | Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, industry, media coverage, regulation, states | Comments (0)This is the first story on the late-breaking court ruling yesterday. The decision has not impact on the referendum. From the piece:
Although it is a loss for payday lenders, the decision does not affect their current referendum effort. On Sunday, the lenders’ coalition turned in 422,000 signatures, and county boards of elections will determine whether the group has the 241,366 valid signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.
A payday-lending coalition sued in July, as it started an effort to overturn new regulations on the industry. Attorney General Nancy H. Rogers rejected an initial petition summary submitted by the group, calling it vague and inaccurate, forcing lenders to submit new language and delaying their signature collection.
The group, Ohioans for Financial Freedom, argued that the state law giving Rogers 10 business days to review the summary let her eat up about 15 percent of the 90-day window that the committee had to collect its signatures. The lawsuit argued that impeded the constitutional right of referendum.
The appeals court disagreed, upholding a lower court decision.
“The fact that the 10-business-day provision might work to restrict, rather than facilitate the referendum process under some plausible set of circumstances is insufficient” to overturn the law, said Judge Judith L. French, writing for the 2-1 majority.
Tilting at windmills
September 3, 2008 | Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, employees, industry, industry critics, media coverage, states | Comments (0)The crazies can’t give up. This attack on the petition gathering procedures went nowhere before, going nowhere now.
“…a strong sentiment among voters….”
August 31, 2008 | Bill Faith, COHHIO, Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, customers, employees, industry, industry critics, media coverage, states | Comments (1)That what the 400,000 signatures represent. The Columbus Dispatch story is here:
“This effort was a great opportunity to hear from Ohioans, and it’s clear from this massive number of signatures there is a strong sentiment among voters that politicians need to stop killing jobs and financial choices in the state,” said Bridgette Roman, legal counsel for Dublin-based Checksmart and a lead member of the payday coalition.
A “no” vote on the issue would allow lenders to continue charging a 391 percent annual interest rate ($15 per $100 on a two-week loan). A “yes” vote would limit lenders to a maximum 28 percent plus a $15 origination fee on a two-week loan. The fee difference on a $300 loan is $45 versus $18.
Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Grocers’ Stand Behind Payday Lenders
August 27, 2008 | Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, media coverage, positive media coverage | Comments (3)The Columbus Dispatch reports on the Chamber of Commerce’s position:
The chamber said the new law, House Bill 545, imposes overly broad regulations that are “not the way to revitalize Ohio’s economy.”
“The Ohio Chamber champions free enterprise and economic competitiveness and we believe HB 545…runs counter to our mission”, said Andrew E. Doehrel, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “This new law, if not reined in by Ohio voters, will drive an entire industry and 6,000 good-paying jobs out of our state.”
“As we strive to turn around our economy we must allow the free market to meet consumer demands and facilitate the creation of much needed jobs”, Doehrel said.
And the position of the Ohio Grocers’ Association:
Later in the day Tuesday, the Ohio Grocers’ Association also joined in support of payday lenders. “If payday lending businesses cease to exist in Ohio, which is likely if H.B. 545 is enacted, OGA’s members could be hurt through an increased number of bounced checks, fraudulent checks and even theft,” said Tom Jackson, association president and CEO.
Let’s sum up the Ohio payday lending battle
August 22, 2008 | Bill Faith, Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, industry, industry critics, media coverage, regulation, states | Comments (2)Never mind, this blogger at the Columbus Dispatch did it for us.
Next in Ohio legislators’ sights: credit card companies
August 16, 2008 | Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, alternatives, industry, states | Comments (1)It’ll interesting to see what happens when legislators tangle with banks. We’re betting on the banks.
This must have hurt
August 15, 2008 | Bill Faith, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, industry, industry critics, media coverage, regulation, states | Comments (0)The Cleveland Plain Dealer, the most vehemently anti-payday lending paper in Ohio, had to write this headline and lead this morning:
Payday Lenders Win Fight on Ballot Language to overturn reforms
Columbus–Chalk one up for the payday lending industry.
Read the rest of the article here.
And the Columbus Dispatch story is here.
Strip club spokeswoman leading charge against payday lenders in Ohio
August 13, 2008 | Bill Faith, COHHIO, Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, customers, employees, industry, industry critics, media coverage, regulation, states | Comments (2)Last year, Sandy Thies was the spokesman for a strip club referendum in Ohio, according to this story. In that capacity, she defended the industry against charges that petition gatherers were not telling the truth. Now she’s out there accusing RejectHB545 petition gathers of being misleading. Can she be taken seriously?
Update: We were just informed that Sandy is a female. Note the pronoun changes.
