On the recordMay 24, 2010
while I opposed the motion to instruct offered by the Senator from Kansas, Mr. Brownback, I did so with reluctance. The vast majority of auto dealers in Wisconsin do not engage in the kinds of behavior that have been held up as a reason to oppose the Senator's motion, or the amendment he had previously offered to the financial regulatory reform bill. Our dealers are wonderful corporate citizens, who have contributed significantly to our communities and our State. Some of that excellent track record stems from Wisconsin's tough consumer protection laws that not only safeguard consumers, but also protect those firms that treat their customers fairly from the fly-by-night operators who seek to gain a competitive advantage over honest dealers at the expense of the consumer. Had Wisconsin's consumer laws and history of vigorous enforcement been reflected in other States across the Nation, there would have been a stronger argument for carving out an exception in the bill for a specific set of firms, as is proposed by the motion to instruct. Even though I opposed the motion to instruct, supporters of the motion are right when they note that auto dealers, who are almost uniformly small businesses, should not be treated the same as the large financial institutions that are the focus of much of this bill.
