Oder’s next fight

I was pleased to read the July 19 op-ed by Del. Glenn Oder citing his work to reform payday lenders. Having spent countless hours strategizing with Oder to ensure consumers have the strongest protections possible, I know he is dedicated to reducing high interest rates charged by predatory lenders. As constituents who have visited Oder know, he keeps a rally bat in his office with the issues he is most passionate about written on each side: transportation and predatory lending. Oder’s intention is to work for his district and all Virginia to knock it out of the park at every chance. That is why I am so pleased that Oder plans to write car title lending on his bat and focus on an industry that secures loans with the title of a vehicle but still charges triple-digit interest rates.

Legislators who advocate for the protection of vulnerable Virginians whose cars are repossessed when they can’t pay the 300 percent interest rates prove that some in government still put constituents over special interests. We should join the rally to make sure our elected leaders cap interest on predatory car title loans at 36 percent in the next session. Let’s see that bat, Glenn Oder.

C. Douglas Smith

Richmond