Hank Johnson

It is ironic that the Representatives in Congress who care more about the banking industry than they do about the people that they represent.

It is ironic that the banking industry that made so much money... when they got the bailout, they failed and refused to use it to help folks on Main Street.

We need a third option.

I thought that the best way of addressing the issue was to start not on Wall Street but on Main Street.

Thank you for holding this important hearing. I am glad that CAL is taking the opportunity to look at the role of bankruptcy reform in financial regulation reform.

Would it be a strict construction kind of analysis, or would it be by chance the acknowledgment that the Constitution is a living and breathing document?

Consumers may still opt to arbitrate a dispute with a company. But only when that consumer determines that it is the appropriate forum at the time the conflict arises and not before.

In the 110th Congress I introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act, a bill that would prevent all forced pre-dispute arbitration clauses.

The scales of justice ought not to be so weighted.

The Arbitration Fairness Act does not forbid arbitration clauses. It merely prevents forced pre-dispute arbitration clauses.

I firmly believe that Congress must act in this instance to protect consumers.

Forced arbitration has been a concern of mine for many years, and I firmly believe that the Congress must act in this instance to protect consumers.

I am personally sensitive to the visually impaired, and I certainly appreciate you all coming to express your views.

It will be like the gatekeeper. Why should Google be the only entity permitted to sell access to orphan works?

As Chairman of the Courts and Competition Policy Subcommittee, I am also particularly sensitive to the antitrust implications of the settlement.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman; and I want to commend you for holding this hearing on this very important issue right now.

The taxpayers have spent--and some would say invested--$60 billion in bailout money for the automobile manufacturers.

Seems to be something that they are using quite frequently to try to defeat things like health care and education, energy.

To the contrary, despite their claims on the radio that they have never been invited, that there have been no opportunities for them to discuss this issue, it is not true.

I want to first begin by thanking the Chairman for hosting this town hall meeting, actually hosting it after calling it.

Forced arbitration has been a concern of mine for some time; and I firmly believe that Congress must act in this instance to protect consumers.

One of our indelible rights is the right to a jury trial. Guaranteed by the United States Constitution, this right has been gradually eroded through forced arbitration agreements.

This Congress has consistently stated over almost the past 100 years that, if there is no benefit to consumers, then allowing manufacturers to set retail pricing is disfavored.

Even former President Ronald Reagan condemned retail price fixing because it stifles competition, and adds to inflation.

It is great to be in the time where we can deal with this particular issue and other similar issues, especially given the economic crisis that has, in part, been caused by laissez-faire attitudes.