CLEVELAND - Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-Ohio) has only been in Congress 15 months, but she definitely isn't following the good-old-boys dictum that freshmen should be seen but not heard. Speaking at the Ohio Credit Union System convention April 13-15, Tubbs-Jones made it clear she's concerned about two issues - predatory lending and the "digital divide" she said separates people with computer know-how and those lacking that knowledge. A member of the House Banking and Small Business Committees, Tubbs-Jones has signed on as co-sponsor of a bill aimed at addressing predatory lending. She's also among the backers of Savings for Working Families legislation providing for Individual Development Accounts. "I believe IDAs are right for the times," Tubbs-Jones said. "I have tried to encourage credit unions in my areas to think about how we can fill (unmet) needs. I believe no one should be left out of the current economic prosperity our country is enjoying. "I hope you might pick up some of the folks who are stuck out there," she said. "They (credit unions) are a cooperative, common sense approach." Citing a program of New Market Initiatives to support businesses in distressed urban and rural areas, she indicated "I hope credit unions will review this initiative and find ways to come on board." Tubbs-Jones also stressed the importance of computers. "Those who lack access to information in an information society will again be locked out," she said. As for predatory lending, "We are not saying that all banks and mortgage companies are predatory lenders. They know who they are. We want to crack down on them." She added she believes credit unions can play a role by filling banking gaps and expanding hours in many communities, and by bringing membership to more modest and low-income people. Tubbs-Jones noted she belongs to four credit unions. She and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) sponsored the first Black Congressional Caucus credit union session. -
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