House Rejects Bankruptcy Bill Opposed by Christian Groups
By Jeff Johnson
CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief
November 14, 2002

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - It's not often that Focus on the Family founder, Dr. James Dobson, and liberal pro-abortion Democrat Jerrold Nadler of New York find themselves agreeing on anything, but the two did share their opposition to a bankruptcy bill Thursday, even if for vastly different reasons.

The House of Representatives Thursday rejected the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2002 (H.R. 333), which would have made it more difficult for Americans to escape their debts through bankruptcy protection.

Nadler told his colleagues on the House floor that bankruptcy professionals, women's groups, children's advocates, and civil rights groups opposed the bill.

"It is supported and is being pressed forward by a coalition of banks and credit card companies and other business interests who want to profit exorbitantly at the expense of families and small businesses at a time of crisis," he argued.

Conservatives warned that an amendment to the bill would have taken bankruptcy protection away from non-violent, pro-life protesters.

As CNSNews.com previously reported, Dobson took to the airwaves on his daily radio broadcast to call on pro-family conservatives to urge their representatives to block the bill, because of an amendment attached to the conference committee version of the bill by pro-abortion New York Democrat, Sen. Charles Schumer.

That amendment would have made it impossible for peaceful, pro-life protesters sued by abortion clinics for alleged "intimidation" to have judgments against them dissolved in bankruptcy court.

The House voted 243 to 172 against the rule that would have brought the bill up for consideration. Dobson said during Thursday's broadcast that he hoped Congress would work out the problems with the proposal and bring it up again sometime next year, when Republicans will control the Senate and could strip the pro-abortion Schumer amendment from the bill.