Southwest Public Policy Institute
Representing the Southwest Public Policy Institute, I recently had the opportunity to testify before the Alaska House Finance Committee and the Alaska Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee regarding proposed legislation on consumer credit. The bills in question, House Bill 145 and its Senate counterpart, Senate Bill 264, aim to implement rate caps similar to […]
The Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) has been invited to provide expert testimony in the upcoming legislative sessions for Alaska House Bill 145 and Alaska Senate Bill 264, which will take place on April 30, 2024.
The Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI), a leading advocate for policy solutions that enhance freedom and prosperity in the Southwest, today announced its support for the Competitive Enterprise Institute-led coalition opposing the RECOUP Act (S. 2190). By signing the coalition letter, SPPI aligns itself with other prominent policy groups and experts in urging Congress to […]
Wells Fargo’s Flex Loan program is a labyrinth of unclear eligibility requirements and a baffling case of vanishing funds.
The 2022 passage of House Bill 132, which set a stringent cap of 36% on interest rates for consumer loans, is having its intended and significant repercussions on New Mexico’s financial landscape. This was no accident: by restricting the interest rates that small-dollar lenders can charge, the rate cap effectively marginalized an entire segment of […]
New Mexico stands on the cusp of a golden era, with its oil and gas boom enriching the state’s coffers to unprecedented levels. Now is the time to ensure that this wealth directly benefits the very people who make New Mexico vibrant and unique: its residents. Drawing inspiration from Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), it’s […]
In response to Fred Nathan’s (July 30) op-ed praising New Mexico’s efforts to end predatory lending, I must assert that the celebratory tone is premature and misguided. Two significant studies conducted by the Southwest Public Policy Institute — “No Loan For You!” published in March 2023 and “No Loan For You, Too!” published in June […]
Last week, the Southwest Public Policy Institute joined Carrie Sheffield from the Independent Women’s Forum, Tirzah Duren from the American Consumer Institute, and Ann Petros from the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions for the panel discussion “Protecting Lending Services For Unbanked, Low-Income Americans”, part of IWF’s Center for Economic Opportunity Policy Chat series. In […]
Recent data from the National Assessment of Academic Progress (NAEP), also known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” reveals a significant decline in reading and math scores for 13-year-olds. The results highlight the academic failures caused by COVID lockdowns and school closures. The average scores in reading have dropped to levels last observed in the 1970s, […]
Originally published at realclearmarkets.com on June 21, 2023 In New Mexico, an interest rate cap on specialized emergency loans when into effect in January. Since then, big-bank promoters have endorsed the small-dollar short-term loan products offered by U.S. Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Huntington Bank, and others as alternatives. Recently, those same activists have thrown in support for […]