http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_5546.html?rev=33243 <p>H.R. 5546 would amend the antitrust laws to ensure competitive market-based rates and terms for merchants' access to electronic payment systems.</p> <h2 id="toc0"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Credit Card Fair Fee Act of 2008 - Authorizes providers of a single covered electronic payment system (e.g. Visa or Mastercharge credit cards) and any merchants to jointly negotiate and agree upon rates and terms for access to such a system.</p> <p>Defines covered electronic payment system as any system that has been used for at least 20% of the combined dollar value of U.S. credit, signature-based debit, and PIN-based debit card payments processed in the applicable base year.</p> <p>Grants limited antitrust immunity to such providers and merchants, as well as to those providers who jointly determine among themselves the proportionate division of paid access fees.</p> <p>Sets forth procedures to determine rates and terms for access to a covered electronic payment system.</p> <p>Prohibits any other rates and terms from being imposed upon a merchant for accessing a covered electronic payment system except as specified in a voluntarily negotiated access agreement.</p> <p>Creates a panel of three full-time Electronic Payment System Judges, appointed by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition, to determine the schedule of rates and terms for three-year periods. Subjects any determination of such Judges to judicial review.</p> <p>Authorizes providers and merchants to engage in voluntarily negotiated access agreements. Declares that such voluntarily negotiated access agreements shall be given effect with respect to the signatories in lieu of any determination by the Judges.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc1"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 10/3/2008: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 588.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc2"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc3"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 33243@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:35:39 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_5546.html?rev=27700 <p>H.R. 5546 would amend the antitrust laws to ensure competitive market-based rates and terms for merchants' access to electronic payment systems.</p> <h2 id="toc4"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Credit Card Fair Fee Act of 2008 - Authorizes providers of a single covered electronic payment system (e.g. Visa or Mastercharge credit cards) and any merchants to jointly negotiate and agree upon rates and terms for access to such a system.</p> <p>Defines covered electronic payment system as any system that has been used for at least 20% of the combined dollar value of U.S. credit, signature-based debit, and PIN-based debit card payments processed in the applicable base year.</p> <p>Grants limited antitrust immunity to such providers and merchants, as well as to those providers who jointly determine among themselves the proportionate division of paid access fees.</p> <p>Sets forth procedures to determine rates and terms for access to a covered electronic payment system.</p> <p>Prohibits any other rates and terms from being imposed upon a merchant for accessing a covered electronic payment system except as specified in a voluntarily negotiated access agreement.</p> <p>Creates a panel of three full-time Electronic Payment System Judges, appointed by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition, to determine the schedule of rates and terms for three-year periods. Subjects any determination of such Judges to judicial review.</p> <p>Authorizes providers and merchants to engage in voluntarily negotiated access agreements. Declares that such voluntarily negotiated access agreements shall be given effect with respect to the signatories in lieu of any determination by the Judges.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc5"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 7/16/2008: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc6"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc7"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 27700@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:34:06 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_5546.html?rev=24138 <p>H.R. 5546 would amend the antitrust laws to ensure competitive market-based rates and terms for merchants' access to electronic payment systems.</p> <h2 id="toc8"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Credit Card Fair Fee Act of 2008 - Authorizes providers of a single covered electronic payment system (e.g. Visa or Mastercharge credit cards) and any merchants to jointly negotiate and agree upon rates and terms for access to such a system.</p> <p>Defines covered electronic payment system as any system that has been used for at least 20% of the combined dollar value of U.S. credit, signature-based debit, and PIN-based debit card payments processed in the applicable base year.</p> <p>Grants limited antitrust immunity to such providers and merchants, as well as to those providers who jointly determine among themselves the proportionate division of paid access fees.</p> <p>Sets forth procedures to determine rates and terms for access to a covered electronic payment system.</p> <p>Prohibits any other rates and terms from being imposed upon a merchant for accessing a covered electronic payment system except as specified in a voluntarily negotiated access agreement.</p> <p>Creates a panel of three full-time Electronic Payment System Judges, appointed by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition, to determine the schedule of rates and terms for three-year periods. Subjects any determination of such Judges to judicial review.</p> <p>Authorizes providers and merchants to engage in voluntarily negotiated access agreements. Declares that such voluntarily negotiated access agreements shall be given effect with respect to the signatories in lieu of any determination by the Judges.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc9"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 5/15/2008: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Hearing Held by the Task Force on Competition Policy and Antitrust Laws.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc10"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc11"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 24138@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 16 May 2008 18:31:52 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_5546.html?rev=22325 <p>H.R. 5546 would amend the antitrust laws to ensure competitive market-based rates and terms for merchants' access to electronic payment systems.</p> <h2 id="toc12"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Credit Card Fair Fee Act of 2008 - Authorizes providers of a single covered electronic payment system (e.g. Visa or Mastercharge credit cards) and any merchants to jointly negotiate and agree upon rates and terms for access to such a system.</p> <p>Defines covered electronic payment system as any system that has been used for at least 20% of the combined dollar value of U.S. credit, signature-based debit, and PIN-based debit card payments processed in the applicable base year.</p> <p>Grants limited antitrust immunity to such providers and merchants, as well as to those providers who jointly determine among themselves the proportionate division of paid access fees.</p> <p>Sets forth procedures to determine rates and terms for access to a covered electronic payment system.</p> <p>Prohibits any other rates and terms from being imposed upon a merchant for accessing a covered electronic payment system except as specified in a voluntarily negotiated access agreement.</p> <p>Creates a panel of three full-time Electronic Payment System Judges, appointed by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition, to determine the schedule of rates and terms for three-year periods. Subjects any determination of such Judges to judicial review.</p> <p>Authorizes providers and merchants to engage in voluntarily negotiated access agreements. Declares that such voluntarily negotiated access agreements shall be given effect with respect to the signatories in lieu of any determination by the Judges.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc13"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 3/6/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc14"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc15"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 22325@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:31:20 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_5546.html?rev=19088 <p>H.R. 5546 would amend the antitrust laws to ensure competitive market-based rates and terms for merchants' access to electronic payment systems.</p> <h2 id="toc16"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc17"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to update the status of the bill!)</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc18"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc19"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 19088@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:44:07 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_5546.html?rev=19089 <p>H.R. 5546 would amend the antitrust laws to ensure competitive market-based rates and terms for merchants' access to electronic payment systems.</p> <h2 id="toc20"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc21"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 3/6/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc22"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc23"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 19089@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:44:07 EST