PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE TOMORROW
The political parties’ primary elections are being held tomorrow, Tuesday, June 7. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Voter registration, or a change in party affiliation, are allowed at the polling place. For more information, go the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at sos.iowa.gov.
You can also visit our website for a copy of our most recent “Faithful Citizenship for Iowa Catholics” flier on voting. The document is in the process of being updated for the fall election season.
SAVE THE DATE – IOWA INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL ACTION
It’s time to “save the date” for the 2017 Iowa Institute for Social Action. The Institute is our leadership-training event for advocates of the human life and dignity teachings of the Church. It will be held on Jan. 15-16 (MLK Day) at Saints John and Paul Church in Altoona, IA. Click here to download the flier.
Brian Corbin, Executive Vice-President of Membership Services at Catholic Charities USA, will present the keynote address. Breakout sessions will feature the latest on the social concerns of the Church, including poverty, immigration and protecting the vulnerable. Click here for our flier.
The Institute follows the Mass for Life and the Midwest March for Life, held in Des Moines on Jan. 14, 2017. Make it a long weekend!
ACTION ALERT
Don’t forget our action alert in favor of common-sense protections for pro-life health care workers. The Conscience Protection Act of 2016 (H.R. 4828/S. 2927) would protect health care providers from being forced to pay for or participate in abortions, and allow victims of discrimination a “right of action” to defend their rights in court. Go to www.humanlifeactioncenter.org for more information and a sample message for your members of Congress.
NEW PAYDAY LOAN RULES PROPOSED
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a new national rule that addresses payday and car title lending. Hopefully this will help the millions of people trapped in 300‐plus percent interest loans.
The proposed rule establishes an “ability‐to‐repay” principle. This would help determine whether a borrower is likely to be able to pay back the loan, without defaulting on basic necessities like rent and groceries, and without immediately taking out another loan. Unfortunately, the rule exempts six payday loans from an ability‐to‐repay requirement.
The CFPB will be seeking comments from the public until Sept. 14 before making the rule final in 2017. In the meantime, consumers can suggest changes to the final rule that will close loopholes and remove exemptions. Comments can be offered at www.stoppaydaypredators.org.
Car title lending is not as big a problem here in Iowa because in 2007 (with our support) lawmakers limited the amount of interest that could be charged. We would like to do the same for payday loans.
