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Citizen Action
Quick Hit
by Josh Kalven
9:18am
Tue May 11, 2010

Crain's Covers The Payday Loan Reform Bill

Amid the chaos in Springfield late last week, we reported that a much-needed bill to close a loophole in the 2005 Payday Loan Reform Act had passed the Illinois Senate and was on its way to the House.  Today, Crain's covered the story, noting that the House will likely voted on the bill before the end of May and featuring this quote from Citizen Action/Illinois co-director Lynda DeLaforgue: "The agreement is historic in Illinois. ... We will for the first time have set rates on these unsecured loans made to the most vulnerable borrowers.”  Learn more about the damaging loophole here.

Quick Hit
by Josh Kalven
11:28am
Thu May 6, 2010

Payday Loan Reform Bill On The Move

Our own Adam Doster is on the ground in Springfield today and reports back with some good news: the Illinois Senate last night passed HB 537, a measure that aims to close a destructive loophole in the 2005 Payday Loan Reform Act.  The bill has changed numbers since we wrote about it in March, but our understanding is that the central provisions remain the same:

[I]t would cap interest rates on installment loans at 99 percent APR, index the loans based on a borrower's ability to pay, and would require loans to be paid off in equal monthly installments with no balloon payments.

Adam talked to Citizen Action/Illinois co-director Lynda DeLaforgue today.  She expressed cautious optimism that the bill would make it through the House in the next 48 hours, but added: "With this issue, you never know."

PI Original
by Josh Kalven
10:12am
Wed Apr 7, 2010

Health Care Activists Thank Durbin For Reform Fight (VIDEO)

Health Care

Illinois health care activists came together yesterday evening to thank Sen. Dick Durbin for his leadership in Washington and to celebrate the passage of the Democratic reform package.

PI Original
by Adam Doster
1:09pm
Fri Mar 19, 2010
352 comments

Momentum For Payday Loan Reform Growing

Consumer Protection

The prolonged battle to close a loophole in Illinois' payday lending reform law is gaining momentum as consumer groups have picked up some much-needed support from lawmakers and select industry groups.

PI Original
by Adam Doster
3:18pm
Tue Feb 23, 2010
3 comments

Collateral Damage In The Medical Malpractice Fight

Tort Reform

A recent Illinois Supreme Court ruling did away with a 2005 bill establishing caps on malpractice damages. But it also voided some crucial insurance reforms as well. Will legislators manage to reintstate the latter protections this year?

PI Original
by Progress Illinois
9:13am
Thu Jan 28, 2010
7 comments

Meet The Democratic Statewide Candidates

Election 2010

An introduction to the Democratic candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, treasurer, comptroller, and lieutenant governor.

PI Original
by Adam Doster
1:19pm
Thu Dec 17, 2009
2 comments

Fight Over Payday Loan Loophole Heats Back Up

Consumer protection

Another year passed without the General Assembly closing the most significant loophole in the 2005 Payday Loan Reform Act. That means many strapped borrowers looking for some flexibility before the holidays will be exposed to small-dollar consumer installment loans (CILA) ...