$6,500 Homebuyer Tax Credit Officially Extended to 2010

Homebuyer tax credit 2010 now a reality
Congress today passed a bill that extends the homebuyer tax credit, which was set to expire at the end of this month. Homebuyers who initiate their purchase between now and April 2010 will be able to take advantage of a $6,500 deduction in their [...]

Image from Flickr.

Unemployment Holding Strong, Jobs Won’t Return Until 2012

A long wait lies ahead
The ridiculously high national unemployment rate (9.8 percent) has convinced Congress to consider a bill that would allow people to collect unemployment for an additional 13 weeks. However, an unemployment extension of three months might not be long enough for many people.
CNN Money reports that the [...]

Image from Flickr.

Unemployment Extension Vote Will Decide Fate of Millions

Unemployment extension vote to come
The unemployment extension vote that took place Tuesday cleared the way for the unemployment extension bill to make its way through Congress. The House has passed the bill, which would allow unemployed workers to collect benefits for an additional 13 weeks beyond what is already allotted.
Originally, [...]

Millions of Americans who cant find work could benefit from the unemploment extension vote.

See How Your Officials Vote With Visible Vote App

Keeping tabs on Congress
Americans live in a society where they vote on who they want to represent them in local, state and federal government. This democratic system works well in principle, but the sad truth is that many people either don’t vote or cast their vote without having a good [...]

Payday Loan Reform Act Leaves Customers with Bad Alternatives

Professor defends payday loans
The Payday Loan Reform Act is making its way through Congress, and many have concerns about how it will affect consumers who use payday lenders, online cash advances and other short-term loans.
One such concerned citizen is Robert DeYoung, a finance professor at University of Kansas. He wrote [...]

University of Kansas

Committee Discusses Balanced Payday Loan Regulation

Finally, a little fairness
After a hearing on last week on the Payday Loan Reform Act, it appears that some legislators are beginning to see payday lenders as a necessary service instead of a predator.
A House Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee on April 2 discussed HR 1214.
Small differences
Many legislative hearings [...]

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LegiStorm Part 8 | What Are They Up To Now?

Keep tabs on Capitol Hill
We are nearing the end of this tour of LegiStorm.com, the site that lets you look at extensive financial information about our nation’s leaders. Now, it’s time to take a look at what’s possibly my favorite section on the site.
Click on the tab called The Score, [...]

Exercise your freedom to know public information.

Health Insurers Willing to Cut Down Pre-Existing Premiums

Making deals with Congress
When Congress asked the health insurance industry if it would stop charging higher premiums to customers with pre-existing conditions, it said “sure.”
So maybe it wasn’t quite so simple, but that is what it boiled down to.
Comprehensive health insurance
Congress is examining how it can create a plan that [...]

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AIG CEO Edward Liddy Feigns Anger, Distaste Over Bonuses

Edward Liddy and AIG must pay
There will be no peace these days for AIG CEO Edward Liddy. Even if he claims that he shares our rage.
Michael McAuliff and Helen Kennedy report for the New York Daily News that Liddy has told Congress that he’s asked his employees to “give up [...]

Lobbyists Saw Stimulus First | Payday Loans For a Copy?

Payday loans for a lobbyist’s copy
Payday loans to doughnuts, that stimulus bill sure made it through Congress fast, eh? According to Paul Bedard’s recent U.S. News and World Report’s “Washington Whispers” column, developments have been quite shocking.
How shocking? Well, get this. Capitol Hill is up in arms – not because [...]

But does he have a copy of the stimulus bill?

Payday Loans For Us | Your Officials Can’t Read Stimulus Bill!

Payday loans for speed reading… NOW!
Payday loans for speed reading courses may be necessary for members of Congress. Don’t wait, learn it now!
Why? Because Congress has finally received the final language for the economic stimulus bill that is due to hit President Obama’s desk by the morning of Monday, February [...]

speed reading - time lapse video

U.S. Retail Sales Rise | Payday Loans and Spending Increase

Payday loans more popular
More people are discovering payday loans can help in tough economic times. As more consumers from different demographics are exercising their financial options, the retail market took an unexpected turn in January.
Sliding sales pattern broken
For the first time in six months, the downward spiral that has been [...]

Twitter 365 Project - Day 12

Congress Reaches Stimulus Deal | States to Get Cash Advances

Bill will give states a payday
States facing budget shortfalls could get big cash advances when President Barack Obama signs the economic stimulus bill.
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives reached a consensus today on the stimulus package. The two houses are expected to hold final votes on the package before [...]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

Illinois AFL-CIO Endorses Payday Loan Reform Advocate

Candidate has record with payday lenders

John Fritchey, candidate in the Illinois 5th Congressional District race, got an endorsement from the AFL-CIO today. The organization cited his voting record regarding payday loan reform and other financial legislation among its reasons for endorsing him.
Obvious answer for skeptics
Fritchey in the past has voted [...]

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Government Grants Go Where Payday Loans Cannot

Payday Loans to Government Grants

Payday loans are imminently useful when consumers run into a temporary budgeting snafu and require a small amount of assistance ($100 to $1,500) to cover a surprise expense, but government grants are more appropriate for slightly higher order expenses.
As Matthew Lesko says, government grants are free [...]

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