Ensure “meaningful use” by giving consumers control
Consumer Action signed onto a coalition letter to the Health Information Technology Policy Committee, which is tasked with defining how implementation of electronic health records will meet the standard of "meaningful use," such as reducing hospital admission times. The letter asks the Committee to include the ability for patients to control the uses and disclosures of their protected health information in this definition.

Wisconsinites for Responsible Lending
Wisconsinites for Responsible Lending (WRL) is a statewide coalition of groups and concerned residents that has come together to promote responsible lending practices and products and address one of the pressing economic and social issues affecting our state: Predatory Payday Lending.

Financial reform coalition tackles big issues
A new financial reform coalition, Americans for Financial Reform, has been launched. Consumer Action is a part of this coalition.

Health reform legislation must lower costs for working families
In a letter to Congress, Consumer Action and its coalition partners ask that any laws enacted on behalf of healthcare reform include strong provisions making insurance coverage affordable.

Groups seek stronger mortgage reform bill
Consumer Action signed on to Congressional testimony that opposes current mortgage reform legislation (HR 1728). The bill would provide some needed protections to predatory lending, but would also replace stronger state laws with weaker federal protections.

Shareholders target predatory credit card practices
Consumer Action and the Center for Responsible Lending joined socially responsible MMA Praxis Mutual Funds and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility to discuss anti-consumer credit card practices that could have a negative impact on shareholders of major card issuers, and the larger economy.

“Opt-in” fundamental to consumer overdraft protection
The Federal Reserve's move to curb abuses in bank overdraft practices prompted Consumer Action and its coalition partners to write a letter demanding that the Fed ask institutions to first obtain consumer "opt-in" or agreement before imposing any fees for the service.

Advancing financial literacy in Wisconsin

Over the last three years, Consumer Action’s Sol Carbonell has served as the Dane County Marketing and Promotions Committee Chair for Money Smart Week, a weeklong financial literacy awareness and education campaign that takes place in the state of Wisconsin during the month of October. In this article, Carbonell shares some of the accomplishments and behind the scenes coordination efforts of this campaign that reached thousands of consumers with financial literacy information.

“Consumer Action is proud to be part of Money Smart Wisconsin and urges state partners to join the movement and continue promoting financial literacy,” said Carbonell.

State regulators must be allowed to protect borrowers
Consumer Action signed on to a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Attorney General Eric Holder urging them to overturn a Bush Administration ruling that weakened the ability of states to investigate and enforce laws against banks in their region.

Loan modifications available for all mortgages, not just subprime
Consumer Action joined its coalition members in a letter supporting S. 61, which would provide judges with the authority to modify unaffordable loans for all families who are facing foreclosure, not just those with subprime mortgage loans.