November 14, 2019/Press

Tillis Repeatedly Pushed Priorities for Predatory Lending Industry Over Objections from the DOD, American Legion, and Veterans Groups

Raleigh – Senator Tillis has repeatedly helped weaken protections from predatory lending practices for North Carolinians, including servicemembers and veterans, while raking in campaign cash from the payday lending industry – even attending a fundraiser thrown by a top predatory lender executive less than a week after a bill hiking profits for the industry “sailed through the legislature” with Tillis’ help.

As North Carolinians reflect on the sacrifices veterans have made for our state this week, a look back at Senator Tillis’ record reveals a senator willing to put his reelection chances before military communities – from enabling an $80 million raid on our military bases and skipping a Veterans’ Affairs hearing for a political fundraiser to fundraising with predatory lenders days after allowing them to charge consumers like servicemembers and veterans higher interest rates.

As Speaker of the House, Tillis raked in more than $30,000 in contributions from predatory lenders, the most in the North Carolina legislature at the time. In return:

In the Senate, Tillis also put special interest lenders first while accepting more than $14,000 from the payday lending industry: