Electronic Payments Coalition Executive Chairman Richard Hunt today criticized the Department of Transportation’s review of airline reward programs, calling it "the latest stop on the Durbin-Marshall Retribution Tour." This review, along with one by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, was requested last year by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). Hunt alleged that the senators are using these reviews to target industries opposed to their proposed legislation, which places new mandates on Americans’ credit cards.
“The Department of Transportation is the latest stop on the Durbin-Marshall Retribution Tour, with opening acts by Secretary Pete Buttigieg and CFPB Director Rohit Chopra," said Hunt. "Senators Marshall and Durbin, after failing to deliver on a promised vote, are now using their power to weaponize the federal government against workers and industries who oppose their flawed, experimental credit card bill."
Hunt further stated that instead of engaging in an open debate about the merits of this bill or questioning corporate executives about not passing savings from similar debit card mandates to consumers, Senators Durbin and Marshall are attempting to "silence, intimidate and distract by acting like schoolyard bullies."
He concluded his remarks with a reference to Senator Marshall's past support for the "Don’t Weaponize the IRS Act," suggesting irony in his current actions.
A timeline of what Hunt referred to as the Durbin-Marshall Retribution Tour was also mentioned.
"We believe investing in new technologies and legislating national data security standards will create a stronger payment system," added Hunt.