Author: Southwest Public Policy Institute

The Southwest Public Policy Institute is a think tank dedicated to improving the quality of life in the American Southwest by formulating, promoting, and defending sound public policy solutions. Our mission is simple: to deliver better living through better policy.

SPPI Files Amicus Brief Supporting the Federal Reserve in Major Debit Card Case

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date December 30, 2025
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A major federal court case could reshape debit card economics nationwide, impacting payment security, reliability, and everyday consumer transactions.

Tags Amicus Brief, Banking Policy, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Card Payment Security, Checkout Transactions, Constitutional Law, Consumer Protection Policy, Corner Post Lawsuit, Court Of Appeals, Credit Union Policy, Debit Card Transactions, Durbin Amendment, Economic Policy, Electronic Payments, Federal Reserve Board, Fifth Amendment Takings, Financial Access, financial inclusion, financial regulation, Fraud Prevention, Household Finance, Interchange Fees, Investment Incentives, James Madison Institute, Legal Interpretation, Market Stability, Merchant Fees, National Economic Impact, Network Processing, Payment Card Policy, Payment Infrastructure, Price Controls, Public Policy Debate, Regulatory Litigation, Retail Payments, Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI), Transaction Monitoring, U.S. Economy

Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Conservatism Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Regulation Government Spending Government Transparency and Accountability Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Press Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Updates

In the News: National Media and Policy Leaders Highlight SPPI

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date December 25, 2025
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National media, policy leaders, and regional voices alike are amplifying SPPI’s research, analysis, and solutions.

Colorado Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Illinois Life Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Transparency Updates

Buried in Bias

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date December 12, 2025
1 Comment on Buried in Bias

The Center for Responsible Lending’s “Buried in Debt” report fails as policy analysis.

Tags Alternative Financial Services, Amortization Schedules, Annual Percentage Rate (APR), Banking Fees, Bolen Elliehausen Miller Study, Buried In Debt Report, Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), consumer choice, Consumer Credit Policy, Consumer Lending Research, Consumer Welfare, Cost Of Living Crisis, credit access, Credit Bureau Data, Credit Denial Rates, Credit Market Regulation, Credit Rationing, Credit Stacking, Credit Supply Constraints, Deep-Subprime Borrowers, Difference-In-Differences Analysis, Economic Opportunity, Evidence-Based Policymaking, Financial Hardship, financial inclusion, Financial Literacy, financial regulation, Financial Services Policy, Free Market Finance, Housing Cost Burden, Income Volatility, Interest Rate Caps, Loan Availability, Loan Disclosures, Market Distortion, Mortgage Finance, No Loan For You, No Loan For You!, Overdraft Fees, Payday Lending, Poverty And Inequality, Price Controls, Regulatory Economics, Regulatory Harm, Risk-Based Pricing, Selection Bias, Small-Dollar Credit Research, Small-Dollar Loans, Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI), Subprime Borrowers, Substitute Financial Products, Survivorship Bias, Too!, Total Cost Of Credit, Usury Laws

Press Top Issues Updates

SPPI Welcomes Silicon Valley Innovator Dain Ehring to Board of Directors

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date December 8, 2025
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The Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) is proud to announce that Dain Ehring, a nationally recognized technology entrepreneur and pioneer in financial and digital innovation, has joined its Board of Directors. Mr. Ehring has over 40 years of experience driving innovation in technology, financial services, and digital ecosystems. As CEO of DAIN ALLEN LLC, he manages strategic […]

Budget and Spending Conservatism Courts Culture Cybersecurity Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Government Spending Housing Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Reports Technology Top Issues Updates

Report: 1033 Error, Rule Not Sound

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date November 24, 2025
2 Comments on Report: 1033 Error, Rule Not Sound

The CFPB’s open-banking mandate endangers consumers.

Tags Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Authorized Third Parties, Banks And Credit Unions, Chevron Deference, Comparison Shopping Tools, Consumer Data Access, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Consumer Protection Policy, Credit Karma, Cybersecurity Risks, Data Breach Risks, Data Governance, Data Monetization, Data Portability, Data Privacy Frameworks, Data Security, Data Sharing Agreements, Digital Financial Platforms, Dodd-Frank Act, Economic Freedom, Federal Court Injunction, Financial Compliance, Financial Data Aggregators, Financial Data Ecosystem, Financial Data Exchange (FDX), Financial Fraud Prevention, Financial Innovation, Financial Institutions, Financial Market Stability, Financial Privacy, Financial Regulation Reform, Financial Services Policy, financial technology, Financial Transparency, Fintech Regulation, Free Market Policy, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), Lead Generators, Lending Tree, Liability Asymmetry, Loper Bright Decision, Major Questions Doctrine, Market-Based Innovation, Meta Fraud Report, National Security Risks, NerdWallet, Open Banking, Personal Financial Data Rights Rule, Plaid Data Connections, Price Controls, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Overreach, Rohit Chopra, Screen Scraping, Section 1033, Statutory Authority Limits, Third-Party Data Access, Trump Administration Rulemaking, Voluntary Industry Standards

Conservatism Culture Debt Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Housing Infrastructure & Technology Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Public Opinion Reports Top Issues Transparency Updates

Report: The Case Against 50-Year Mortgages

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date November 8, 2025
2 Comments on Report: The Case Against 50-Year Mortgages

How will Washington’s housing “fix” entrench debt, inflate prices, and undermine the American Dream?

Tags 50-Year Mortgage, Abrazos Homes, Affordable Housing, Annual Percentage Rate (APR), Bill Pulte, Building Permits, Central Planning, Construction Costs, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Donald Trump, Economic Policy, Fannie Mae, Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Federal Reserve, financial regulation, Freddie Mac, Government Subsidies, Home Builders, Homeownership, Housing Affordability, Housing Policy, Housing Supply, Immigration Policy, Inflation, Jerome Powell, Mackenzie Bishop, Mortgage Market, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS), Patrick M. Brenner, Property Taxes, Real Estate Market, Red Tape, Skilled Trades, Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI), Sticky Inflation, Tariffs, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Zoning Reform

Crime and Justice Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Government Transparency and Accountability Legal and Judicial Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Public Opinion Top Issues Updates

SPPI Files Federal Complaint After New Mexico Attorney General Fails to Act

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date September 17, 2025
1 Comment on SPPI Files Federal Complaint After New Mexico Attorney General Fails to Act

The Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) has filed a formal complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding the loan-sharking lending practices of former State Representative Tara Jaramillo and her company, Positive Outcomes, Inc. The action follows years of inaction by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and other state agencies, despite overwhelming evidence […]

Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Infrastructure & Technology Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Public Opinion Technology Top Issues Updates

Lip Service Masquerading as Credit Inclusivity

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date September 17, 2025
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When Wells Fargo first rolled out its Flex Loan program, it was heralded by advocates like The Pew Charitable Trusts as evidence that America’s largest banks were finally offering an “affordable” alternative to short-term credit products. Bankrate’s own review of the Flex Loan paints a favorable picture, touting fast approval, lower fees than payday loans, […]

Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Education Freedom and Reform Energy & Environment Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Spending Government Transparency and Accountability Health Care Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Press Security Top Issues Updates

SPPI Launches Champions Program

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date August 18, 2025
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New partnership program invites leaders to advance liberty, transparency, and prosperity across the nation.

Culture Policy Centers Press Top Issues Updates

SPPI Receives 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date August 17, 2025
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The Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) has been awarded the 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly Guidestar), the premier recognition for nonprofit transparency and accountability. The Platinum Seal is the highest level of distinction offered by Candid, achieved by fewer than 1% of registered nonprofits nationwide. It recognizes organizations that provide clear, comprehensive […]