Candidates Clash Over Payday Advance Stances, Ads

Historical archive, first published 2006 — payday-lending laws and rates have changed since. Preserved for the record.

Mike Boland launched a preemptive lambasting of his opponent, Steve Haring, Thursday for reportedly planning to attack Mr. Boland on payday advance loan reform.

Boland, an East Moline Democrat, said he and his staff heard a rumor from people close to Mr. Haring that his campaign was going to distribute a negative ad later this week. But the candidate also admitted he didn’t know if the ad would run.

At another press conference, Haring, of Savanna, said any ad on cash advance reform was news to him.

The two men are in the midst of an increasingly negative bid for the state House of Representatives’ 71st District seat.

Boland said he voted for legislation last year that would prevent people from being victimized by cheap payday loan companies. House GOP leader Tom Cross, of Oswego, who was in East Moline stumping for Mr. Haring Thursday, said:

“We’re not doing anything on payday loans.”

Haring, in turn, attacked Boland for an ad claiming he will outsource jobs to China and South Korea. Haring touted his experience in economic development as proof that he has created jobs in his area.

Rep. Cross called for Mr. Boland to pull the ad.

Boland said he wasn’t going to pull any television ads. He pointed out that he helped the Thomson Prison open, making it clear this campaign was about far more than just no fax payday loans.