• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Legislature / Assembly passes rent-to-own bill

Assembly passes rent-to-own bill

March 15, 2012 By Jackie Johnson

Oshkosh Democrat Gordon Hintz rails for 35 minutes against legislation that essentially exempts rental-purchase agreements from Wisconsin’s consumer protection law. Hintz is unsuccessful in sending what he called a “predatory” bill back to committee on financial institutions, arguing it didn’t have proper oversight. “We have found a way in this state and in this country to make massive amounts of money off of poor people.”

Hintz argues, consumers who rent to own really expensive items are among the poorest, adding, “It’s not really capitalism if you’re making you’re money at the expense of people who either are desperate or don’t know any better.”

Hintz says business has never been better. “In other words, we have found an industry that knows how to create jobs and expand even during this bad economy. Amazing how do they do it? They do it because people are poor and struggling and have bad credit and they’re being pushed into this area.”

He says the rent-to-own bill (AB-582) won’t help create the right kind of jobs; it preys on the poor — without warning them. The measure is sponsored by Eleva Republican Warren Petryk. Under the legislation, the rental-purchase company isn’t required to disclose any annual percentage rate. Hintz says it will put more stress on the social service system. He says consumers who choose to buy the product they had been renting are “purchasing at three times the cost.”

The bill passed the Assembly and was immediately messaged to the Senate, which refused to act on the measure before adjourning its final day of session.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:35

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Legislature, News



Featured Stories

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

Tommy Thompson announces he will not run for governor

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC