Editorials

"Federal officials are right to be concerned that the rule will hurt lower-income and middle-income consumers and the "underbanked" and "unbanked" -- a group of people who need access to responsible banking to improve their finances."

—New banking regulation threatens debit cards,
Daytona Beach News-Journal, 4/11/11

"The Durbin Amendment was passed with little debate, and it represents the worst kind of government meddling in a marketplace that is not, by any obvious measures, broken."

—Bank fee change a bad idea for consumers, KSL News (Utah), 4/10/11

"One thing we have learned from the country's recent financial problems is that what is best for the largest businesses is not always best for everybody. This plan needs another review.

—Change on debit card fees needs more study,
The Herald-Dispatch (West Virginia), 4/4/11

"Mr. Durbin pitched his bill as pro-consumer but it was really an attempt to rob banks and debit-card issuers in order to pay off his campaign check writers in the retail industry. As usual, the little guy is getting trampled."

—Debit card debacle, The Wall Street Journal, 3/17/11

"Federal lawmakers need to accept that the Durbin amendment will do little for consumers, apart from forcing banks to invent annoying new fees. The only thing better than delaying this government effort to micro-manage the business world would be repealing it altogether."

—They're Baaack, Chicago Tribune, 3/25/11

"A better idea: no study and an indefinite delay. Mr. Durbin and his cohorts are senators, not the Grand Arbiters of Seemly Profits."

—A swipe at freedom, Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, 3/24/11

"Congress wrongly decided to pick a winner and loser in the debit card business, and by distorting the marketplace the lost revenues for financial companies will lead to higher fees and reduced services for consumers."

—Delay debit card cap, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 3/20/11

"Banks want to issue cards. Merchants want to accept them. Both sides have an incentive to please the consumer. Government should stay out of the way."

—Fair fight, The Columbus Dispatch, 3/19/11

"The Fed’s proposed rule, which would cut the average fee by a stunning 73 percent, should be rejected in favor of a more suitable compromise until Congress can undo this ill-considered provision slipped into a massive regulatory bill."

—Debit-card destruction, The Washington Times, 2/15/11