Published: May 2016

More policy riders intended to threaten retiring Americans, hijack budget process

A coalition of 254 groups is urging Congress to reject any federal appropriations bill that contains inappropriate and “ideological” policy riders. These riders, which were wildly popular during the last budget cycle, would jeopardize policies that restrain Wall Street abuses and would weaken new legislation intended to protect American families and their retirement savings. These policy riders are little more than special favors and sweetheart deals for big corporations and ideological extremists and have no place in the appropriations process.

At the end of last year, Congress wisely rejected multiple efforts to use the budget process to force through unrelated ideological riders, including changes in financial regulation that would undermine consumer protections, endanger financial security, or reduce accountability for big banks. It is vitally important that members remain committed to opposing such riders again this year.

The coalition strongly urges Congress to oppose any flawed funding proposals that undermine the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Department of Labor’s conflict-of-interest rule, or other financial reform and accountability legislation or regulations. These riders are unpopular and controversial with voters in both parties. By sneaking them into must-pass budget legislation, lawmakers are trying to avoid a real debate and showing that Congress isn’t looking out for regular Americans.

Lead Organization

American's for Financial Reform (AFR)

Other Organizations

AARP | AFL-CIO | Alliance for a Just Society | Allied Progress | American Association for Justice | American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) | Americans for Financial Reform | As You Sow | Center for Digital Democracy | Center for Effective Government | Center for Global Policy Solutions | Center for Popular Democracy | Center for Responsible Lending | Committee for the Fiduciary Standards | Communications Workers of America | Consumer Action | Consumer Federation of America | Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety | Corporation for Enterprise Development | Consumers Union | CoolBranch | Demos | Fair Share | The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights | Main Street Alliance | NAACP | Pension Rights Center | PICO National Network | Privacy Rights Clearinghouse | Public Citizen | Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association | Rebalance IRA | ReFund America Project at the Roosevelt Institute | Service Employees International Union (SEIU) | The Corporation for Enterprise Development | The Other 98% | USAction | U.S. PIRG | UNITE HERE | United Steelworkers | United Church of Christ Justice & Witness Ministries | United Steelworkers, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service

More Information

For more information, please visit AFR's website.

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More policy riders intended to threaten retiring Americans, hijack budget process   (NoRidersLetterMay2016.pdf)