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• Democrat Maxine Waters represents California's 35th district in the U.S. Congress. She has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1991.House.gov: Maxine Waters biography

  On February 11, 2009, during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on how eight major banks spent bailout funds received from the government, Waters was highly critical of the banks' practices. She criticized the bank CEOs, whom she referred to as "captains of the universe" for raising credit cardholders' interest rates after receiving bailout finds and stated that she had always "been in disagreement with the banking industry."Risky Business (U.S. News): Maxine Waters: Banks Screwing Credit Card Users... (February 11, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Birth name: Maxine Moore Carr
  2. Born: August 15, 1938Project Vote Smart: Maxine Waters
  3. Birth place: St. Louis, MissouriProject Vote Smart: Maxine Waters
  4. Assumed office: January 3, 1991
  5. Party: Democratic PartyHouse.gov: Maxine Waters biography
  6. Spouse: Sidney WilliamsHouse.gov: Maxine Waters biography
  7. Alma mater: California State UniversityHouse.gov: Maxine Waters biography
  8. Previous occupation: TeacherHouse.gov: Maxine Waters biography
  9. A member of the House Financial Services Committee and the Chair of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community OpportunityHouse.gov: Maxine Waters biography
  10. Supporter of the Credit Cardholder's Bill of RightsRisky Business (U.S. News): Maxine Waters: Banks Screwing Credit Card Users... (February 11, 2009)
  11. Was reportedly put on hold by Bank of America for two hours in January of 2009Consumerist: Bank Of American Puts Congresswoman On Hold For Two Hours (January 25, 2009)

• Bank of America Experience

  In January 2009, Waters called Bank of America and spent two hours attempting to find the right department to speak with, in attempt to help two constituents receive loan term modifications. She was eventually connected with the refinancing department. The department number was a pre-recorded message, which said to check the Bank of America Web site to determine eligibility for refinancing, and then disconnected the call.Consumerist: Bank Of American Puts Congresswoman On Hold For Two Hours (January 25, 2009)

• Early Life

  Before entering politics, Waters was a teacher and volunteered for Head Start, a program helping underprivileged children. In the mid-70s, she joined the California State Assembly, where she remained until being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.House.gov: Maxine Waters biography

• Positions

  Waters supports positions including abortion rights, alternative energy, gun control and increased funding for education.Ontheissues.org: Maxine Waters Waters also co-sponsored a bill to impeach U.S. Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney. She also stirred controversy in 2008 for a comment she made about "socializing" the oil industry by having the government-run all oil companies. Ontheissues.org: Maxine Waters Digital Journal: Maxine Waters Out of the Closet as a Socialist? (May 27, 2008)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Democratic Party | Bailout | Bank of America | Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

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