Claire McCaskill

We wanted to ensure that the legislation would be something that ACRA could emphatically support.

Well, I'm going to remain optimistic. We began this process with a lot of the rental car companies not on board, and we have been able to negotiate and work toward a solution that is I think a good one.

I do want to find out about the costs for this. Why are we charging for this?

I think most people that are receiving Social Security would like the idea that we would bring down the improper payments money so that they are sure Social Security is going to be stable into the future.

I do not think that is a good choice in today's Federal Government, and to me--I am pretty sure I know which one they would choose.

I mean, it seems like to me we should be falling all over ourselves, no matter what part of government we are, to make sure this list is everywhere, complete, and no one is having to figure out whether or not it is really worth it for them…

Frankly, Senator Coburn covered a lot of what I wanted to talk about in terms of the Death Master File.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for this hearing. As usual, you are a dog with a bone when it comes to improper payments.

I think they are kind of spitting in the face of the intent of the legislation that was passed.

It is one of my frustrations that in some ways the FTC has jurisdiction and so does Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

I think Senator McCaskill's point is exactly on point.

Most of the lenders--I think FICO is the most commonly used score.

Consumers are needing a cop on the beat here still.

It seems to me that the transparency that is needed for the marketplace to work more effectively and efficiently for the people that are putting their money in the marketplace--those are the people that are making the loans and buying the…

We are here talking about these issues, trying to fix these for the consumers that are captured by this system.

I'm a little confused, because you just said, Mr. Pratt, that free credit report, that model happened before the change in the law to require the annual report.

You've got to be kidding.

The question is how do you build incentives so that in fact consumers are the customers.

This is a system that consumers are captured by. They have no choices here.

If it's not enforceable then we need to fix it and make it enforceable, because there's a problem.

I think it is inappropriate for a company to continue to be less than forthcoming that what they are gathering your data for and selling it and making you wait 2 days and making you give your e-mail is something that is immediately…

You're telling me that my account with Verizon, that they are so worried... that they don't want to report my information?

I mean, somebody should be handing her piles of money for how badly you guys screwed this up.

But seriously, you won't fix it if you're not going to be monetarily punished.

I think you are not well served by saying you don't have a problem. You have a big problem.