House OKs credit card bill with gun amendment

The House has sent to President Obama a bill reining in unpopular credit card practices, leaving an amendment attached that allows people to carry guns in national parks.

The credit card portion of the bill passed by a lopsided 367-61 vote. House leaders split off the vote on the gun amendment, which passed 279-147.

{mosads}The gun amendment was opposed by most Democrats, but a surprisingly high number — 105 — voted for it. Previous estimates of Democrats who support eliminating gun restrictions had the figure at 80 or lower.

The Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights legislation takes aim at hidden fees, arbitrary rate increases and other practices that have fed public anger for years. The bill will require 45 days’ notice before raising interest rates and give a more detailed billing statement intended to end hidden fees.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) had added the gun amendment in the Senate. It restores a Bush administration policy that allows loaded guns in national parks and refuges.

The move angered House liberals. But leaders structured consideration of the bill so that liberals could register their dissatisfaction with the gun amendment without voting against the popular credit card bill.

To stop the bill, opponents would have had to vote against the “rule” written by leaders laying out consideration of the bill. Voting against the rule is considered disloyalty to the party and party leaders and no liberals attempted it.

Only two Democrats, Reps. Baron Hill (Ind.) and Walt Minnick (Idaho), both conservatives, voted against the rule.