Voted YES on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions.
Amends Federal bankruptcy law to revamp guidelines governing dismissal or conversion of a Chapter 7 liquidation (complete relief in bankruptcy) to one under either Chapter 11 (Reorganization) or Chapter 13 (Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income). Voting YES would:
Declare a debtor eligible only for Chapter 13, as anyone financially capable of paying back their creditors at a rate that still allows them to earn above their state's median income
Place domestic support obligations such as child support and alimony amongst the first priority claim category of non-dischargeable debts on a debtor filing for bankruptcy
Require debtors to pay for and attend credit counseling prior to filing for bankruptcy
Cap home equity protection at $125,000 if the debtor purchased a house within 40 months of filing for bankruptcy.
Reference: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005;
Bill S 256
; vote number 2005-44
on Mar 10, 2005
Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy.
Vote to pass a bill that would require debtors able to repay $10,000 or 25 percent of their debts over five years to file under Chapter 13 bankruptcy (reorganization and repayment) rather than Chapter 7 (full discharge of debt).
Reference:
Bill HR 333
; vote number 2001-236
on Jul 17, 2001
Expand microloans to small businesses.
Jeffords co-sponsored the Microloan Program Improvement Act
Amends provisions of the Small Business Act concerning the Microloan program (a program of start-up loans to small businesses) to:
remove the requirement that such loans be short-term;
allow up to 35 (currently 25) percent of grant funds made to intermediaries to be used to provide technical assistance to small businesses that are prospective borrowers under the program; and
authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to use up to $1 million of the annual appropriations for technical assistance grants to subcontract with one or more national trade associations of eligible intermediaries or other knowledgeable entities to provide peer-to-peer capacity building and training to lenders and organizations seeking to become lenders under the program.
Source: Bill sponsored by 19 Senators 01-S174 on Jan 24, 2001
