Identity Theft:Identity Theft:who’s protecting you?who’s protecting you?

VS.VS.

Do you want your financial Do you want your financial information in the hands of Big information in the hands of Big

Business?Business?

California and The California and The Federal government have Federal government have

been working to ensure been working to ensure financial privacyfinancial privacy

BUTBUTWhose plan will protect you Whose plan will protect you

the best?the best?

California State PlanCalifornia State Plan

SB-1SB-1 Stops consumer information from Stops consumer information from

being shared with businessbeing shared with business Info. only released with “express” Info. only released with “express”

permission from consumerpermission from consumer Keeps bank balances, spending Keeps bank balances, spending

habits and credit reports privatehabits and credit reports private Protects from Big BusinessProtects from Big Business

Federal Government PlanFederal Government Plan

Fair Credit Report ActFair Credit Report Act Regulates distribution of consumer Regulates distribution of consumer

credit reports to businesses credit reports to businesses Removes any negative information Removes any negative information

(e.g. bankruptcy, late payments, (e.g. bankruptcy, late payments, etc.) after certain amount of timeetc.) after certain amount of time

Only keeps credit reports privateOnly keeps credit reports private Pro-BusinessPro-Business

The Layer CakeThe Layer Cake

A.K.A. Dual FederalismA.K.A. Dual Federalism California’s bill will be changed to fit California’s bill will be changed to fit

Federal guidelinesFederal guidelines A perfect example of dual A perfect example of dual

federalism!federalism!

Lobbyists: Trouble-makers for Lobbyists: Trouble-makers for Californians Californians

• Lobbyists for Big Lobbyists for Big Business use their Business use their influence to ensure influence to ensure laws pass in their favorlaws pass in their favor

• California’s privacy acts California’s privacy acts would stop the flow of would stop the flow of consumer informationconsumer information

The Federal Government wants to The Federal Government wants to create a “uniform national create a “uniform national

standard” for financial privacy.standard” for financial privacy.

By doing so, credit becomes By doing so, credit becomes easily accessible to the everyday, easily accessible to the everyday,

average Joe.average Joe.

Why would Congress create a Bill Why would Congress create a Bill that gives less protection over that gives less protection over

consumers?consumers?California’s SB-1 act would highly California’s SB-1 act would highly

restrict Big Business’s restrict Big Business’s information sources, but Big information sources, but Big Business has the weapon of Business has the weapon of money and power.money and power.

Most likely, the Federal Govt. is Most likely, the Federal Govt. is doing what it needs to for its doing what it needs to for its own security.own security.

The consumer matters, but the The consumer matters, but the consumer cannot compare to consumer cannot compare to influence of Big Business. influence of Big Business.

What New York Believes…What New York Believes…

Sept.2005 Gov. George Sept.2005 Gov. George Pataki signed new identity Pataki signed new identity theft legislation.theft legislation.

Public and private org. are Public and private org. are required to inform required to inform customers if their personal customers if their personal information has been information has been leaked.leaked.

If over 5,000 citizens are If over 5,000 citizens are affected NY government affected NY government offices must get involved. offices must get involved.

Michael OxleyMichael Oxley

Representative Representative from Ohiofrom Ohio

Supports Federal Supports Federal LawLaw

Allowing different state standards will hurt, not help consumers. This act protects all consumers uniformly.

Michael Oxley is wrong.Michael Oxley is wrong.We believe that states should decide We believe that states should decide

how to handle the relationship how to handle the relationship between consumers and Big between consumers and Big Business.Business.

States have a closer relationship with States have a closer relationship with their citizens and could create a their citizens and could create a privacy law to better suit their needs.privacy law to better suit their needs.

Maxine WatersMaxine Waters

Congress woman Congress woman from Californiafrom California

Against Federal Against Federal Privacy lawPrivacy law

If anyone told me I’d be here on the house floor arguing for states’ rights against the conservatives on the other side of the aisle, I’d tell them they were crazy.

Isn’t it Ironic?Isn’t it Ironic?

As a liberal democrat, Waters is more As a liberal democrat, Waters is more likely to want strong federal control, likely to want strong federal control, instead of advocating states’ rights. instead of advocating states’ rights. In this case, the opposite occurs.In this case, the opposite occurs.

Corporate interests, which are Corporate interests, which are normally favored by republicans, normally favored by republicans, trump states’ rights, which are also trump states’ rights, which are also normally favored by Republicans.+ normally favored by Republicans.+

This slide show was brought to you This slide show was brought to you by,by,

Mackenzie MillanMackenzie Millan

&&

Lauren TeplinLauren Teplin

Period 2Period 2

November 30,2007November 30,2007