Need help with political science and an Interest Group - Payday Lending

InterestGroup - Payday LendingInmost neighborhoods, especially low-income neighborhoods, you don't have to lookfar to see signs advertising "payday loans" and "titleloans." In my old neighborhood, Spring Branch, it seems like there are twoor three per block the entire length of Long Point.Consumergroups hate these places, accusing them of preying on poor people. A United Wayspokesman noted examples in the Houston Chronicle, including a "$480 paydayloan that soon saw a family paying $186 in interest and fees every two weeks; a$300 loan on which a borrower, three months later, owed $700."Onthe other hand, borrowers who use payday and title loans often have poor credithistories, or no credit history at all, and may have few options. For someconsumers, a high-interest payday loan on the day rent is due may be a betterand cheaper alternative than getting evicted.Alarge coalition of churches and consumer groups, the Texas Fair Lending Alliance,has pushed the Texas Legislature and city government throughout the state tocrack down on what they see as predatory lending practices. The Consumer ServiceAlliance of Texas represents payday and title lending companies.Earlierthis year, Senator Royce West (D-Dallas) filed S.B. 121, which would have imposed state-wide restrictions onpayday lending.Yourassignment, write a 3 - 5 page essay (college-level, double-spaced, etc.)explaining:1.What you would do to help get this bill passed if you were representingconsumer groups.2.What you would do to change or defeat this bill if you were representing paydayand title lenders.3.Finally, how you would respond to these groups, their arguments and activitiesif you were a state legislator.**Remember, the assignmentis about interest groups. Don't focus on what a rip-off you think payday loansare, or on how consumers ought to be free to make their own choices and howgovernment isn't supposed to be everybody's mom. Focus on how you would managethe issue on behalf of each of the two interest groups.Submitin Word. Cite your sources.Additional ResourcesTheTexas Tribune covered the legislature's efforts on this issue: http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/29/lawmakers-lend-ear-concerns-about-payday-loans/TheDallas Morning News talked about it on their blog: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/04/lawmakers-face-long-odds-in-effort-to-crackdown-on-predatory-lending.html/Note:it says something about this issue that, as you do research for this essay, Google"payday loans" at your own risk. Prepare to be deluged with adstrying to sell you one.