For Immediate Release

Contact: Matthew Covington, 515-255-0800, matthew@iowacci.org
Kristin Schaaf, 515-255-0800, kristin@iowacci.org

Legislature takes significant moves to protect Iowa's consumers
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) members applaud legislature's moves on two critical bills

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009, DES MOINES, IOWA --- Individual Iowans are one step closer to having needed protections against certain types of consumer fraud, as the legislature moved two critical bills out of committee this week at the Statehouse. Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, who have been pushing for this much-needed legislation for the past few years, applaud this decision.

A "Mortgage Broker Duty of Agency" bill, which would require brokers to act in their clients' best interest and disclose all fees and compensation to the borrower, passed out of the House Commerce committee earlier this week. Another piece of legislation that is one step closer to becoming law is the "Private Remedy for Consumer Fraud" Act, which passed out of the Senate Judiciary committee. Passage of this bill would end Iowa's distinction as the only state in the union that does not allow individual consumers to sue fraudulent businesses under the state's Consumer Fraud Act. 

"As consumers, we always assume businesses act in our best interests, but that's not always the case," said CCI member Robin Ghormley, who lives in one of Des Moines' older neighborhoods. "I'm extremely happy we're making progress on these critical issues. For too long, the legislature has not taken the needed steps to protect everyday Iowans. Hopefully, this signals a change from politics as usual."

Iowa CCI members are pushing for stronger legislation to protect Iowa's consumers and homeowners, especially in the wake of the current foreclosure and economic crisis. On March 3, CCI members will gather at the Capitol to continue pushing for policies that put people first on critical issues like clean elections, local control, homeowner protections and the rights of all workers.

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Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a group of everyday people who talk, act and get things done on issues that matter most. With thousands of members from all walks of life -- urban and rural, black and white, immigrants and lifelong Iowans -- CCI has been tackling tough issues and getting things done for more than 30 years.

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