Cracking Down on Credit Card Companies

During good times, consumers were seduced with easy credit. Now, angry card-holders tell stories about rising interest rates and decreasing limits. Card companies, including some banks with taxpayer bailouts, are changing the rules. Liberal Senate Democrat Chris Dodd and conservative Republican Richard Shelby have co-authored a bill to reform the business of credit-card lending. In his latest weekly radio address, President Obama indicated that its time has come. Some sleazy practices might be ended. But credit might also be harder to come by in times of need. Is that necessarily a bad thing? We look at the pros and cons.