ANTI-CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY “REFORM” WON’T BE PASSED BY AUGUST RECESS

July 22, 2002

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According to CongressDaily, the bankruptcy legislation will not be on President Bush’s desk by the August recess. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) on Friday gave a brief update
on the status of the legislation by saying, “We’re exactly where we were a month ago,” reported CongressDaily. Staff members have been working on the details of the legislation
for more than a month. When asked if he thought the delay would affect the bill’s chances this Congress, Grassley said, “I think any time before sine die is good enough.”

According to the online news service, staff remain locked in a debate over the definition of things like “egress” and “blockade” as they discuss what sorts of abortion clinic protest-related judgments should be dischargeable in bankruptcy and which ones should not. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) commenting on the status of the legislation said, “I told them [staff] to let me know when anything changes. Until then, I have bigger things to say grace over.”