Retailers benefit from the convenience of credit cards at the same time they’re asking Congress to impose new routing restrictions, according to a new Washington Times op-ed.
Details: The Heritage Foundation’s Stephen Moore said credit cards reduce the burden of handling cash and decrease theft at the register while vastly expanding retailers’ transactions and sales. “The credit card market isn’t broken; it’s flourishing as America moves rapidly to becoming a nation where nearly everyone has access to the convenience of cheap credit,” he wrote.
State of Play: Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) continue working to advance their Credit Card Competition Act—which would allow merchants to process credit card transactions based solely on which network offers the lowest cost for them. The lawmakers have repeatedly sought to attach their bill to unrelated legislative vehicles.
Grassroots Campaign: While ICBA continues working against the measure on Capitol Hill, community bankers can use ICBA’s Be Heard grassroots action center to urge their members of Congress to oppose the legislation.
