GOP bankrupts bankruptcy law

If you doubted that a Bush White House would be any different, really, from a Gore White House, have a look at the Senate's new bankruptcy legislation, which President Bush says he'll sign into law.

President Clinton vetoed the same legislation, as would Al Gore if given the chance.

The bill, pushed hard by banks and credit card companies, would make it harder to file for bankruptcy escape from indebtedness.

Yet Senate Republicans rebuffed Democratic attempts to restrain banks from so freely handing out credit cards. The banks complain about being unable to collect billions from card-holders, yet they send out literally billions of cards, some entirely unsolicited, each year.

The Senate made it easier to collect that debt, but refused to rein in the proliferation of credit cards.

The legislation also will force ex-spouses, single parents and children who are due child support and alimony to compete with powerful credit card companies for payment of the debts owed them.

In short, the bankers win, the consumers lose.