Hero or Zero?
February 16th
Welcome to Progress Virginia’s Hero or Zero, a weekly, unapologetically progressive take on this week’s heroes and zeros in Virginia politics. Check out this space every Friday, and Tweet us or post to our Facebook to nominate your own heroes and zeros.
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Hero: Student Loan Borrowers
The Virginia State Senate voted—UNANIMOUSLY—to pass the Borrowers’ Bill of Rights, which would extend basic consumer protections to borrowers by requiring loan servicers to be licensed by the Bureau of Financial Institutions—like mortgage and payday lenders.
The bill would also hold servicers more accountable, requiring companies to provide basic support like informing borrowers of their loan balance and correctly applying your payments.
(Nope, loan services are not required to do this now).
Thank you to the State Senate for supporting student loan borrowers! The bill is next up in the House of Delegates!
Zero: Delegate Ben Cline
It’s been a week of grandstanding and dog-whistle politics for one Ben Cline and we are sick of it.
From his despicable anti-immigrant bill that the House defeated (and then voted on again and passed) to his over-the-top admonishment of Medicaid expansion, we are done with Delegate Cline this week.
And don’t forget, he’s running for Congress! I don’t know about you, but I think we don’t need anymore dog-whistle politics on the national stage (or in Virginia).
BREAKING: House of Delegates kills Del. Ben Cline’s anti-immigrant bill HB1257 on a 50-50 tie! #ImmigrantsAreWelcomeHere
— ProgressVA (@ProgressVA) February 13, 2018
The House has reconsidered the bill and passed it 51-49. https://t.co/LQzibYcm1b
— ProgressVA (@ProgressVA) February 13, 2018
Del. Ben Cline,R-Rockbridge, (right) chastises Kentucky-style Medicaid expansion, which Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, (left) came out in support of yesterday. pic.twitter.com/MCQ7HrdpxX
— Jordan Pascale (@JWPascale) February 16, 2018