WASHINGTON-Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) is only one member of Congress to begin writing to constituents about privacy issues in constituent newsletters. Last week, Inslee included this paragraph in his district update: "The Financial Modernization Act enacted into law last year provided some limited privacy protections. Unfortunately, the law contains many loopholes that still allow financial institutions to share your most intimate financial records without your knowledge or consent. For example, information relating to your bank balance, account history, and even who you write checks to, can be freely shared among a banks' affiliates. "Last year I introduced legislation, H.R. 1929, to close these loopholes and give consumers the right to control their information. This week, the Administration has proposed sweeping privacy protections (CU Times, May 17) which are modeled after my bill. It is my hope that the raised awareness generated by the President's privacy proposal will result in additional Banking Committee hearings so that we can pass meaningful privacy legislation in this session." -
caburger@cutimes
