Retailers Launch New Campaign in Support of Debit-Card Swipe Reform

The industry wants to protect a federal law that lowers debit-card fees.

May 20, 2011

WASHINGTON - Merchants have fired another salvo in the debit-card fee battle with a campaign that urges retailers to come to Capitol Hill next month to meet with lawmakers on the issue, the Washington Post reports.

The retailers hope that the campaign will be enough to convince Congress to shoot down an amendment from Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) on delaying the swipe fee regulations. Tester recently said he would shorten the original two-year delay to 15 months in order to have time to study the law€™s impact.

"I€™m asking that we take a closer look so we can get the information to understand the impacts both intended and unintended," said Tester.

The campaign also has print and radio advertisements that will run in Washington, and a half dozen or so states. "We€™re going to raise the volume over the next 60 days," said David French, chief lobbyist at the National Retail Federation.

The retail industry hopes this push will counter the massive effort from the banking industry, which has pushed for the delay or elimination of debit-card fee caps.

The Senate will allow Tester€™s amendment to get a floor vote, but whether it will pass is anyone€™s guess at this point. What also remains unclear is to what bill the amendment would be attached.

Make your voice heard now on interchange fees. Our industry paid out $9 billion in swipe fees in 2010, according to the latest data from the NACS State of the Industry. Write your members of Congress at nacsonline.com/swipefeesletter.

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