Yesterday I reported that the Senate overwhelming supported a new bill to overhaul anti-consumer credit card billing practices. (Credit Card Reform Is Around the Corner ). 

 

This afternoon, the House gave final approval to its bill which provides a new set of rules for credit card companies as Congress is racing to send President Obama the new legislation before the Memorial Day recess.

 

The support in the House (361-to-64) was almost as overwhelming as the Senate (90-to-5) which reflected the public anger over the abusive practices of credit card companies and banks which include sudden and unexplained interest rate increases and indecipherable terms.

Some House Republicans threw in a totally extraneous provision that would allow visitors to national parks and wildlife refuges to have loaded guns in those facilities if they were otherwise allowed to have the weapons.

Throwing in this measure, which has absolutely nothing to do with credit cards or consumer protection, is nothing less than a dirty trick to take advantage of popular legislation that the President is likely to sign.

“This is a dumb amendment, and Congress should be embarrassed that we have to vote on it,” said Representative Sam Farr, Democrat of California, about the gun provision.

In any event, it is likely the president will sign the credit reform law within the next few days.