Coalition Submits More Than 350,000 Signatures to Cap the Rate and Raise the Wage

Faith leaders, workers, community leaders and representatives of Missourians for Responsible Lending and Give Missourians a Raise today submitted more than 350,000 signatures to the Secretary of State.  Upon certification, these signatures will allow Missourians to vote on measures to cap the rate on predatory loans and raise Missouri’s minimum wage on the November ballot.

“The thousands of Missourians involved with these campaigns are completely devoted to making sure voters have a chance to be heard in November.  We expect all of the valid signatures submitted today to be counted,” said Rev. James Bryan, Treasurer of Missourians for Responsible Lending.  “The payday lending industry and the hired guns working for their shadowy front group pulled out all the stops to protect their four hundred percent interest rates. They've threatened churches and faith leaders, lied to and harassed voters on the streets, and worked to disenfranchise the citizens who signed petitions -- but we have prevailed.”

“As payday lending executives and other CEOs get richer, regular people in Missouri are struggling to make ends meet across Missouri,” said Rev. Dr. James T. Morris, Treasurer of Give Missourians a Raise. “It’s wrong to pay people less than $8 an hour and charge them 400% interest rates. These initiatives are important step forward to an economy that works for all of us.”