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Trump says he's 'just getting started' amid Democratic protests; Changes in US immigration policy impact AR college campuses; HUD pulls federal Fair Housing grants in MT, US; and rule changes sought for SD citizen-backed ballot questions.

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Democrats sue to prevent Trump's takeover of the Federal Elections Commission, a privatized postal service could make mail-in voting more difficult, and states move ahead with their own versions of the Equal Rights Amendment.

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U.S. farmers are left twisting in the wind over farm projects the federal funding freeze has stalled, parks and public lands could be a mess for visiting tourists this summer, while money to fight rural wildfires is in jeopardy.

OR legislation aims to protect against debt collection practices

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Monday, January 22, 2024   

Oregon lawmakers could add greater safeguards for consumers from debt collectors this session.

The Family Financial Protection Act of Oregon includes a suite of provisions to shield consumers, including ensuring people can keep more of their wages from being garnished to pay back debts.

State Sen. Chris Gorsek - D-Gresham - is a supporter, and said the goal of the legislation is to keep debt from ruining people's lives.

"We're not trying to keep people from having to pay their debt," said Gorsek, "but we are certainly trying to protect them so that in the process of paying those debts they are not economically devastated."

The legislation would give people more time to file a legal complaint if a debt collector comes after them for the wrong amount, or if the debt is not theirs.

During testimony against similar legislation last year, opponents said it could raise the cost of loans because of the risk that more people won't pay them back.

Gorsek said he sees the bill as a way to provide economic stability to people's lives. He said it goes hand-in-hand with efforts to address the state's affordable housing crisis.

"If we can prevent more people from becoming houseless," said Gorsek, "it'll make the state's job and local counties' jobs and cities' jobs a lot easier - if we don't continue to see more people being pushed into that category."

The 2024 legislative session begins on February 5.




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