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October 9, 1998
Affordable Health Care: NO ACTION. In the face of overwhelming evidence that the price of health care is putting financial burdens on growing part of our population, Congress has not lifted a finger to address this issue. The number of uninsured Americans climbed 1.7 million from 1997 to a total of 43.4 million. Moreover, Consumers Union estimates an additional 31 million people who have health insurance were underinsured, meaning that if they should have a catastrophic illness, they would be at-risk of having to spend more than 10 percent of their income on health care bills.
Bank Fees Escalate: NO ACTION Not only did Congress bow out of protecting consumers against irritating and costly ATM surcharge fees, but it missed the chance to help millions of American families get access to low cost banking by failing to require banks that are supported by taxpayers to offer accounts that don't nickel-and-dime you to death. As banks rake in record earnings, including $20 billion in fees, the little guy still doesn't get a break from pocket-book squeezing fees.
Bankruptcy: ANTI-CONSUMER The bankruptcy reform bill is a sweetheart deal for the credit industry. This unbalanced bill fails to address abusive credit industry practices that clearly contribute to the rise of bankruptcy filings. It hurts children and single mothers by failing to protect child support or alimony payments. Those with the means to abuse the system get a green light, while honest families who face financial crisis because of job loss, medical expenses or other unforeseen circumstance are shut out.
Cable TV: NO ACTION Despite the fact that cable rates have risen about four times the rate of inflation -- 20 percent since passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act -- Congress refused to either put a lid on cable rates directly through regulation or promote more competition from satellite and other industries.
Copyright: ANTI-CONSUMER Congress passed a bill to extend copyrights twenty years beyond existing terms, which already provide for royalty payments 50 years beyond the life of the copyright owner, or 75 years from the original copyright date for corporations. The Congressional Research Service estimates that the increased royalty payments associated with extending copyrights for books, music and films will cost consumers about $3 billion over the twenty year extension that Congress enacted.
Credit Card Industry Practices: NO ACTION Congress had several opportunities to level the playing field for consumers in the credit area - but failed to take action. Attempts to bring some honesty to credit card statements failed. Attempts to protect kids from credit industry solicitations failed. Congress also closed its eyes as higher fees penalize prudent consumers who pay off their bills.
Debit Card Liability: NO ACTION Despite the efforts of some members, there is no legislation to protect consumers from liability related to lost or stolen check cards. Voluntary standards are insufficient. There are no requirements that a bank account that has been wiped out be restored expeditiously.
Insurance and Investment Product Rip Offs: NO ACTION If you have money in the bank, look out - it may not be in a safe, insured place! Congress failed to enact desperately needed protections to curb misleading and deceptive practices by banks, even in the wake of mega-financial institution mergers that have made such protections even more vital. Banks that fail to tell consumers that the products they purchase are not-FDIC insured or subject to loss of principal can still escape sanctions.
Managed Care Reform: NO ACTION Failure to pass the Patients' Bill of Rights Act means the 161 million Americans who belong to managed care plans remain at risk of inferior health care when plans choose to cut costs by skimping on quality care. Consumers still have no means of holding plans accountable for the delivery of sub-standard medical care that results in injury or death. Moreover, consumers have no guarantees they can access an independent grievance and appeals system when a health plan denies, terminates, reduces or delays care. Congress's failure to act means continued erosion in public confidence in our managed care system as Americans continue to fear their managed care plans puts profits ahead of people.
Privacy Protections: NO ACTION Consumers hounded by telemarketing calls can expect more of the same as huge mega-mergers like Travelers-Citicorp go forward without protections against these huge financial institutions sharing confidential information for their own financial gain, often without your knowledge or consent! Congress failed to enact financial privacy protections, including requiring companies to ask the customer first before selling and sharing information about you. So - mum's the word!
Telecommunications: NO ACTION As regulation of telecom services has curtailed, payphone rates shot up about 40 percent (from 25 cents/call to 35 cents/call), and long distance companies added about $1 billion in new "line-item" charges on consumers' bills in 1998. However Congress did nothing to prevent these rate increases or prevent the consolidation of ownership through mergers which makes competition less likely to develop. Congress also did nothing to eliminate $8 billion in inflated access charge fees that make the cost of long distance phone service more expensive than it should be.
