INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — A bill containing consumer protections from unfair credit card interest rates is now eligible for consideration by the Indiana Senate.

State Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield) successfully amended Senate Bill 238 to include conditions that would prevent public money from being invested in banks issuing credit cards with exorbitant interest rates to patrons in good standing.

“Public funds are being deposited in more than 100 financial institutions throughout the state,” Hershman said. “If these entities are issuing credit cards with unfair interest rates and forcing their consumers with good credit histories to pay unjustified charges, then these institutions should not be rewarded with taxpayer deposits.”

Not only would these current state depositories be denied funds, financial institutions applying to become a state depository would be rejected if they issue to their customers credit cards with interest rates above 21 percent.

“Hoosier families and consumers are struggling to make ends meet,” Hershman said. “Already, taxpayers have been forced to bail out Wall Street and banks. Although the credit card industry is regulated by the federal government, I am working at the state level to do what I can to control unjustified increases. State depositories should not be biting the hands that feed them.”

Hershman said consumers in Indiana and throughout the country are frustrated at drastic jumps in credit card interest rates that are occurring even when a cardholder has a record of paying on time. Since 2003, banks’ penalty fees have jumped from about $11 billion to more than $18 billion – a 65 percent increase – according to ABC News reports.

Hershman said many financial institutions are still profiting despite negative trends in the economy. According to CNN, the nation’s banks raised credit card rates and increased profits from lending to consumers in the first half of 2009.

“Indiana lawmakers understand banks often consider credit cards high-risk loans, but this is not always the case with all consumers,” Hershman said. “Hoosier cardholders with clean credit histories should not be penalized because of those with delinquent or uncollectible credit card debt. The bottom line is this: institutions that continue this unfair policy will not be rewarded with extra taxpayer dollars with which to lend and profit.”

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — A House panel on public health today voted 8-0 in support of State Sen. Ron Alting’s (R-Lafayette) bill aiming to provide more low-income Hoosiers affordable treatment for cervical and breast cancer.

“Senate Bill 554 would allow more low-income and uninsured Hoosiers to receive financial assistance for these cancer treatments while, at the same time, make services more efficient,” Alting said.

Alting, co-author of the measure, said low-income and uninsured Hoosiers in need of cancer treatment are currently eligible for Medicaid only if they are screened through a federal program administered by the Indiana State Department of Health. Those who have not been screened through the federal program are not eligible for Medicaid, and not everyone has nearby access to facilities participating in the program.

According to Alting, many low-income and uninsured Hoosiers – already with very few options when in need of screening – live in 32 of Indiana’s 92 counties without breast and cervical cancer screening facilities participating in the federal program.

“In most cases, finding cancer early through screening and prompt treatment are keys in preventing breast and cervical cancer deaths,” Alting said. “It is very important for women over 40 to be screened every two years for breast cancer. Women who are sexually active should be screened every one to three years for cervical cancer. “

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. Every year, breast cancer claims the lives of nearly 1,000 Hoosiers.

Statistics show death as a result of cervical cancer is on the rise and in Indiana, approximately 100 people die of cervical cancer every year, Alting said.

Sen. Alting represents Senate District 22, which includes a portion of Tippecanoe County.