To the editor:

Recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized commonsense regulations ensuring people who take out high-interest loans (payday and auto title can have rates of 300 percent or higher) have access to viable options for paying them off.

Last week, first-term Congressman Trey Hollingsworth introduced House Bill 4861 exempting lenders from those protections. He included a provision that blocks states from enacting their own protections against predatory practices. This bill should finally dispel any notion that Congressman Hollingsworth represents the people in our district.

I believe that government should ensure a livable minimum wage, and protect hard-earned money through fair labor laws and enforcing consumer protections.

For those reasons I’m supporting Liz Watson in the Ninth District Congressional race. Liz is a Hoosier with tremendous legislative experience. She worked with leaders like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren to draft, promote and fight for a working families agenda. She is endorsed by 23 labor unions, the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the National Organization of Women.

This month she’s continuing a public town hall tour. I encourage folks to come meet Liz and find out for themselves why she’s the most qualified candidate to be our next representative in Washington.

Paul Beede, Bloomington

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