Allied Progress continued its efforts to take on U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's, D-Fla., position on payday lenders this week, targeting her with billboards.
On Monday, Allied Progress announced it would run two billboards in Wasserman Schultz’s district portraying her as “Debt Trap Debbie” and insisting she doesn’t stand with President Barack Obama on the payday lenders.
“President Obama has shown he’s on the side of hardworking Americans by encouraging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to hold payday lenders accountable,” said Karl Frisch, the executive director of Allied Progress.“In a stunning contrast, Rep. Wasserman Schultz has accepted tens-of-thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from these predators – often within weeks of taking official actions to benefit the industry – and is now working with radical conservatives to help gut the CFPB’s efforts to stop the worst abuses of these payday lenders.”
Allied Progress hit Wasserman Schultz for raising almost $70,000 from the payday loan industry. Still, even as Allied Progress looked to contrast Wasserman Schultz with Obama, he did endorse her last week.
"Debbie has been a strong, progressive leader in Congress and a hardworking, committed chair of our national party since I proudly nominated her to the role in 2011," Obama said. "She always stands up and fights for what is right for her district while passionately supporting middle class families.
"Throughout my time as president I have seen Debbie bring an unwavering commitment to her family, her constituents, and our shared goals of protecting seniors, supporting working families, and expanding economic opportunity for more people," Obama added.
Wasserman Schultz is facing a major Democratic primary challenger in attorney Tim Canova. On Monday, the Hill reported Canova brought in around $550,000 in the first quarter of 2016 for his bid.
"Our campaign has been met with incredible enthusiasm,” Canova said on Monday. “There is an intense desire in South Florida, as there is around the country, to end politics as usual and elect a representative who will put the people first, not big Wall Street banks and giant companies."
Wasserman Schultz also faces campaign finance reform advocate Doug Hughes in the Democratic primary. Both Canova and Hughes are hoping to tap into liberal discontent with Wasserman Schultz due to her role as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Several liberal groups have accused Wasserman Schultz of limiting the number of Democratic presidential debates to boost her old ally former U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and deny opportunities to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
