I ran into Congressman Howard Coble downtown yesterday afternoon. I re-introduced myself and asked if I might walk with him a ways, it was obvious he was hurrying to an appointment. He and I made a little small talk, then I went straight to my point for flagging him down. (Ed note: I didn't have a note pad, the quotes below are not verbatim - but close)
"Congressman, where are you on the Bankruptcy Reform bill?", I asked, fully knowing the answer beforehand.
"I'm going to vote for it," he said. I hurriedly explained my situation about where my business is, where my finances aren't, and finally laid Jinni's cancer bills on top of the equation, then said, "Congressman, I have been raised to think of bankruptcy is almost a sin and will do everything in my power to keep it at bay, but the weight of medical bills may be just too much for me to dig my way out of. This reform bill would preclude people like me from making a fresh start. Isn't there some way to amend the bill to make some allowances for people in my situation?" Then a surprise answer from the Congressman, "There is, or at least I think there is. The bill is meant to stop those people who make a (I think he said "sport") out of bankruptcy, not to penalize people in your situation."
Taken aback, I questioned his response, "I'm in favor of stopping fraudulent bankruptcies too, but I really don't think there is any such accomodation in the current legislation, Congressman. I'd appreciated you checking on that." "I will, good to see you", he replied as we parted. "Thank you, Howard," I said as I started walking down Bellemeade St.
But after a few seconds of both of us going our separate ways, he stopped and added this, "David, I'm probably going to vote for the bill in either case."
And there I was, thinking we had made some progress.
7:17:28 AM 
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