Next week when the Senate comes back in session Senator Tester (D-MT), author of S. 575, the bill that would delay debit card swipe fee reform for two years, has indicated he will pursue a vote on his legislation. He is seeking to attach the bill to a small business package that is scheduled for debate when the Senate returns. Procedurally, Tester needs to secure 60 votes to pass his amendment and that means getting some senators who voted in favor of swipe fee reform to change their vote.

The Tester bill aims to delay the Federal Reserve??s rule on swipe fees for two years and ignores the myriad of problems with swipe fees in order to let the nation??s largest banks sweep in extra revenue. A two-year delay costs over $24 billion for consumers and almost 200,000 new jobs. The only parties who benefit from a two-year delay are the biggest banks, which will be allowed to continue price-fixing.

Retailers must contact Congress now. Nothing is more important than constituent contact when members of Congress are making decisions about how to vote on an issue. Go to nacsonline.com/swipefeesletter and send a letter to your senators and representatives. TELL THEM TO VOTE NO on S. 575, H.R. 1081 or any other bill to delay debit swipe fee reform. Pass the word on to other retailers and engage your customers. Now is a very important moment in the swipe fee battle and you must take action.

Here??s an updated list of the senators who are supporting Tester??s bill:

Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] - 3/17/2011
Sen Baucus, Max [MT] - 3/17/2011
Sen Carper, Thomas R. [DE] - 3/15/2011
Sen Coburn, Tom [OK] - 3/15/2011
Sen Coons, Christopher A. [DE] - 3/15/2011
Sen Corker, Bob [TN] - 3/15/2011
Sen Kyl, Jon [AZ] - 3/15/2011
Sen Lee, Mike [UT] - 3/15/2011
Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] - 3/16/2011
Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] - 3/15/2011
Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] - 3/15/2011
Sen Thune, John [SD] - 3/15/2011
Sen Toomey, Pat [PA] - 3/15/2011

NACS Staff Contact: Lyle Beckwith, lbeckwith@nacsonline.com