March 25, 2010 01:44 AM UTC

Payday D-Day is today, people

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• by: jaytee

(And stop spamming us Payday Lenders! – promoted by Colorado Pols)

This minute maybe one more person is being convinced by Orwellian foolery that regulating the payday loan industry is a “jobkiller” and bad for Coloradans. Lawmakers here are on the verge of stopping usury in this state but they are battling powerful interests– not on the floor of the House or Senate but in hallways and staircases and at restaurants in and around the capitol, where there is no public record being kept. Now is the time to pay attention and pressure your lawmakers because next week will be too late.

The Colorado Independent:

DENVER– The war to regulate payday loans in Colorado continues behind the scenes at the capitol here. Lobbyists and lawmakers are working hard to shore up votes for and against legislation introduced by Denver Democrats Rep. Mark Ferrandino and Sen. Chris Romer weeks ago. The bill is stalled for now as negotiations over proposed amendments continue.

“We are working the bill hard,” Ferrandino told the Colorado Independent. “And, as you know, the other side is definitely working it hard, too.”

Corrine Fowler, economic justice director for the Colorado Progressive Coalition, said that her organization was actively working to bring around lawmakers who remained on the fence, including Kathleen Curry, I-Gunnison, Sue Schafer, Wheat Ridge, and Nancy Todd, D-Aurora.

Ferrandino added that they would also like to see Democrats who actively spoke out against the bill to reexamine it. He mentioned Joe Rice, Littleton, Debbie Benefield, Aravada, and Jim Riesberg of Greeley.

So now you have the names, Pols.