Better living through better policy.

Category: Economic Opportunity

An Overdue Course Correction at the CFPB

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date May 20, 2025
No Comments on An Overdue Course Correction at the CFPB

Acting CFPB Director Russ Vought’s rollback of state enforcement overreach marks a critical return to legal restraint, restoring constitutional balance and regulatory clarity to America’s financial system.

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

Fox Business Spotlights SPPI’s Latest Report on Credit Access and Lead Generators

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date May 19, 2025
No Comments on Fox Business Spotlights SPPI’s Latest Report on Credit Access and Lead Generators

National media coverage affirms the importance of preserving consumer choice and innovation in financial matchmaking.

Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Infrastructure & Technology Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Reports Technology Top Issues Updates

Report: Swipe Right

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date May 10, 2025
1 Comment on Report: Swipe Right

How comparison shopping tools and lead generators revolutionize consumer access to products and services.

Colorado Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Technology Updates

Victory in Colorado: HB25-1282 Defeated

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date April 30, 2025
No Comments on Victory in Colorado: HB25-1282 Defeated

A harmful swipe fee price control bill was defeated in the Senate after passing the House, marking a major victory for economic freedom.

Tags Competition, Credit, Credit Card, Credit Card Rewards Programs, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Durbin Amendment, Interchange Fees, Swipe Fees, Taxes

Alaska Arizona California Colorado Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Public Opinion Texas The Constitution Top Issues Updates Utah

Fox Business: Credit card rewards are about to vanish, and guess who’s to blame?

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date April 5, 2025
1 Comment on Fox Business: Credit card rewards are about to vanish, and guess who’s to blame?

This isn’t just about miles and points; it’s about economic freedom and financial choice.

Tags Banking, Consumerism, Credit, Credit Card Rewards, Credit Card Rewards Programs, Credit Cards, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Durbin Amendment, Finance, Interchange Fees, Summer Vacation, Swipe Fees, Travel

Alaska Arizona California Colorado Conservatism Courts Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Texas The Constitution Top Issues Updates Utah

American Banker: Death by a thousand caps—State laws could kill credit card rewards

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 29, 2025
No Comments on American Banker: Death by a thousand caps—State laws could kill credit card rewards

A group of states are pursuing similar efforts to cap credit card interchange fees, endangering rewards programs that customers value, and raising concerns about an illegal interstate compact.

Tags Credit Card Rewards Programs, Credit Cards, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Durbin Amendment, Interchange Fees, MasterCard, Price Controls, Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), Swipe Fees, Transactions, Visa

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

Colorado’s House Bill 1282 Swipe Fee Legislation: A Price Control by Another Name

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 24, 2025
No Comments on Colorado’s House Bill 1282 Swipe Fee Legislation: A Price Control by Another Name

Colorado’s interchange swipe fee cap will ultimately harm small businesses, drive up banking costs, and gut credit card rewards.

Tags Competition, Credit, Credit Card, Credit Card Rewards Programs, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Durbin Amendment, Interchange Fees, Swipe Fees, Taxes

Alaska Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Technology Testimony Top Issues Updates

Fighting Back Against Rate Caps in Alaska: SPPI’s Testimony on Senate Bill 39

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 24, 2025
No Comments on Fighting Back Against Rate Caps in Alaska: SPPI’s Testimony on Senate Bill 39

Last week, I had the opportunity to testify before the Alaska Senate Finance Committee on the dangers of Senate Bill 39, a proposal to impose a 36% APR cap on consumer credit. Additional testimony was submitted to the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee before the bill was advanced to the Senate Finance Committee. This legislation […]

Tags Bank of America, Banking, Credit, Credit Score, Credit Unions, Lending, No Loan For You!, Short Term Loans, Small Dollar Loans, U.S. Bank, Unbanked, Underbanked, Wells Fargo

Alaska Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Markets and Finance Marriage and Family New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Updates

Why Alaska’s Senate Bill 39 Should Be Rejected: Lessons from New Mexico’s Failed Rate Cap

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 24, 2025
1 Comment on Why Alaska’s Senate Bill 39 Should Be Rejected: Lessons from New Mexico’s Failed Rate Cap

Alaska’s Senate Bill 39 (SB 39) proposes a 36% APR cap on consumer loans up to $25,000. The bill aims to regulate financial services, prevent “predatory” lending, and bring state laws in line with federal consumer protection measures. However, while the bill’s intentions may seem noble, its real-world consequences will devastate Alaskan consumers—especially those with […]