Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - Congressional power shift hits small business

November 6, 2008

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd announced Thursday he will stay on as head of that panel and not seek chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations committee -- a position left vacant with Sen. Joseph Biden's election to the White House.

The Senate Banking Committee is the committee of jurisdiction for the Senate version of the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act.

Connecticut Sen. Dodd told NationalJournal.com his priorities will be oversight of the $700 billion rescue fund for financial firms and to quickly advance president-elect Barack Obama's appointments. That bailout package contains significant benefits for small business owners and the committee directly responsible for the health of the country's small businesses could soon be headed up by a long time rent-to-own ally.

 

With Dodd retaining chairmanship of the Senate Banking, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts will likely to take the gavel on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. However, to do so, Kerry would then have to give up his chairmanship of the Small Business Committee, which would likely be taken by Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana -- lead Senate sponsor of Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act.


In addition, Congressional Quarterly reports that Republican Rep. Roy Blunt (MO-7) is resigning as House Minority Whip. Blunt voted against rent-to-own legislation in 2002.

"This shift in power dictates how much support Sen. Schumer, Sen. Landrieu or Rep. (William) Clay has in the next session and how much support for this legislation exists," said APRO Public Affairs Director Richard May. "This shift in power also dictates a shift in our grassroots strategy to address these new leaders of Congress."

mevans@rtohq.org

About APRO
The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations is the official voice of the rent-to-own industry and the most accurate and trustworthy source of rent-to-own news in the industry. Founded in 1980, APRO is the national, nonprofit trade association advocating and representing the rent-to-own industry before the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, courts, media and the public.

For more information, visit www.rtohq.org.




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APRO's new, mobile-ready magazine is now available in addition to our print edition. The digital format provides the same informative content as our printed magazine, but also offers tools to make the reading experience more enriching. Access the table of contents page with one click or tap. Get additional information from advertisers by clicking on the links in their ads. The interface is easy to navigate and requires no special app—read our magazine on your computer, digital table or smartphone. Click here to access the digital version of RTOHQ: The Magazine November-December 2011.

 

Marketing Matters

This year marks the launch of a marketing campaign initiated by APRO to build the rent-to-own customer base. It will be a multi-year endeavor employing multiple strategies. In this and upcoming issues of our magazine, we will address the many facets of marketing that affect our industry.

 

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Future issues of APRO's magazine will be available in this same new format. Click here to access past issues that are not yet archived in the new interface.

 

Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
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