Pennsylvania launches consumer protection hotline, website
wgaltv
[{'start': '1.034', 'end': '5.838', 'text': "BRIAN.  SINCE TAKING OFFICE BACK IN  JANUARY, THE TRUMP  ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN TRYING  TO ELIMINATE THE CONSUMER  FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU, AN  AGENCY THAT WAS STARTED ABOUT 15  YEARS AGO AND ITS EXISTENCE HAS  SAVED CONSUMERS ABOUT $21  BILLION.  TODAY HERE IN HARRISBURG,  GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO SAYS HIS  ADMINISTRATION IS NOW WILLING  AND ABLE TO DO WHAT HE SAYS.  IT SEEMS WASHINGTON IS NOT  WILLING TO DO TO PROTECT  CONSUMERS.  MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT CFPB WOULD  DO THIS WORK.  THEY'RE NOT.  AND SO THE LAWS OF THE  COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA ARE  AMPLE, ACTUALLY MORE THAN AMPLE  FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS  WORK.  GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO SAYS THE  STATE'S INSURANCE DEPARTMENT AND  DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND  SECURITIES ARE READY TO TAKE ON  A GREATER ROLE TO HELP  PENNSYLVANIA'S CONSUMERS.  A NEW WEBSITE, EMAIL ADDRESS AND  PHONE NUMBER HAS BEEN LAUNCHED  TO GIVE CONSUMERS ACCESS TO THE  HELP THEY USED TO GET FROM THE  CFPB.  THE CFPB WAS STARTED 15 YEARS  AGO TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM  SHADY BANKS, LENDERS AND  MORTGAGE OPERATIONS.  AND RIGHT NOW, THE FUTURE OF THE  GOVERNMENT AGENCY IS BOGGED DOWN  IN LITIGATION AND LEGISLATION.  AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION  TRIED TO SHUT IT DOWN, COURT  CHALLENGES ARE NOW PENDING, AND  ON WEDNESDAY, A HOUSE FINANCE  COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON VOTED TO  CUT CFPB FUNDING BY 60%.  GOVERNOR SHAPIRO SAYS THE STATE  NOW HAS THE STAFF AND THE LEGAL  AUTHORITY TO HANDLE COMPLAINTS  THAT USED TO GO TO SEE.  YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANT  TO ARM THOSE WHO ARE COMBATING  FRAUD AND ABUSE IN OUR SYSTEM  WITH MORE TOOLS, NOT LESS, TO BE  ABLE TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE.  THAT TO ME JUST DOESN'T MAKE  SENSE.  NOW, YOU MAY BE WONDERING, CAN  ONE STATE ON ITS OWN HAVE THE  SAME LEGAL AUTHORITY, THE SAME  LEGAL POWER TO DO WHAT A FEDERAL  AGENCY DID?  PENNSYLVANIA, FOR THE MOST PART,  HAS SOME OF THE STRONGEST  CONSUMERER LAWS IN THE COUNTRY.  BUT TODAY, THE GOVERNOR TOLD ME  THAT WHILE HAVING THE CFPB WAS  NICE, A STATE LIKE PENNSYLVANIA  CAN GO AT IT ON ITS OWN,  ESPECIALLY IF IT COMBINES ITS  EFFORTS WITH OTHER STATES IN  HARRIS"}]