House Dems Call For DOJ Investigation Into Debit Card Fees

By Janie Amaya

A collection of House Democrats urgedAttorney General Eric Holder Thursday to open an investigation that would determine whether banks are violating antitrust laws by adding on monthly fees for debit card users.

Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said that soon after Congress and the Federal Reserve Board took consumer protection actions limiting the ability for banks to collude with networks and set debit card fees, the banks quickly announced their intent of off-setting revenue loss through the consumer.

Welch, noting that only the Attorney General has the capacity to bring any violations to light, emphasize than when financial institutions work together to establish uncompetitive prices, competition is compromised.

“Credit cards and debit cards are very important to commerce and they provide great convenance to consumers, but they should be offered at a fair price; the price being established through competition,” Welch said during a press conference.

“There is enormous historical evidence of banks using their monopoly power to impose unfair anti-competitive burden on their depositors and on consumers,” Welch added.

Also present, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) said, “When people in authority inspect, other folks will respect, and so having the attorney general look into whether there are anticompetitive practices will signal to the market that look, you can not engage in collusion.”

The representatives said they don’t have the capacity to draw to immediate findings of any violations by the banks, but said U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder does and should therefore should  an investigation.

Demonstrators Demand Jobs On Capitol Hill

By Adrianna McGinley

Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) joined hundreds of activists and union representatives on Capitol Hill and demanded Congress take action to create jobs, something Ellison has already vowed to do.

“You have elected us to Congress. We are listening to you, and we want to be in partnership with you,” Ellison said. “So when you go out across America and you fight for the justice we all deserve, please know that you’ve got brothers and sisters in Congress ready to fight side by side with you.”

Attendees also stood in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protestors, but Grijalva played down comparisons suggesting the Occupy Wall Street movement will spark the creation of a new political party. He said the movement is not an answer to the Tea Party, but rather a solution to America’s problems.

Struggling Americans shared their stories at the rally, including unemployed Army Reservist Tiffany Mellers. 

“I am continually shocked at how little politicians seem to care about how regular people, like me are doing,” Mellers said. “This cannot go on any longer…we are finally saying enough is enough.”

Demonstrators announced that another rally, Occupy DC, is scheduled for Thursday at Freedom Plaza in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Muslim Ellison Calls For Better U.S.-Arab Relations

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) advocated mending U.S.- Arab relations Friday, saying that a better relationship is necessary for the health of America.

“One of the most essential relationships we need to build is the relationship between the United States and the Arab speaking world,” Ellison said in a conference at the Woodrow Wilson Center. “It is central to the security, economic viability and prosperity of so many people around the world.”

Ellison suggested that, with the long history shared between the U.S. and the Arab world, a close relationship could lead to a prosperous future focused on manufacturing, energy, technology and services.

“We are interconnected, we are tightly wound together, and we should embrace this,” he said.

Ellison added that there is often a misconception of U.S. relations with Arab-speaking countries, noting that finding common ground would be largely beneficial but currently there is a lack of motivation in Congress to mend the relationship.

“When 9/11 occurred the United States took a step back ... and other nations filled that void as we withdrew,” Ellison said. “It is time for us to strengthen, renew and rebind the ties between us and it is time to do that in a way that is better than it was before.”

Ellision, who was elected in 2006, is the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Congress.