Yesterday, I Slogged that Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37, South Seattle) seemed to come out against her own bill. At a hearing earlier this week on the execrable bill, (the bill sought to expand the marketing of controversial Refund Anticipation Loans to payday loan outlets, 7-11s, Wal-Marts), Rep. Santos played bad cop, challenging the lobbyist sponsor with a series of tough questions.

Today, I report this: The lobbyist sponsor of the bill, H&R Block’s lobbyist, Denny Eliason, has asked Rep. Santos and the chair of the financial services committee, Rep. Steve Kirby (D-29, Lakewood) to kill the bill.

To: Sharon Santos (santos_sh@leg.wa.gov); Steve Kirby (kirby_st@leg.wa.gov) Subject: HB 3098 — Refund Anticipation Loans Good Afternoon: After protracted conversations with H&R Block, we are respectfully requesting that you suspend consideration of HB 3098. I very much appreciate your willingness to consider this issue. H&R Block believes that they deliver tax preparation services – including refund anticipation loans – in the most forthright and appropriate manner, and that HB 3098 would only continue that tradition. That said, it is clear that a great deal more work needs to be done with consumer groups before this type of legislation moves forward. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 206-XXX-XXXX. Again, many thanks for hearing this issue. Warm Regards, Denny