Jan 25, 2012
Payday-Lending Lobbyist Jonathan Paton Not Right for Arizona
Republican Jonathan Paton announced his campaign for Arizona’s First Congressional District today, and already voters know they can’t trust him. Paton, who said he will move to the district from Tucson in order to run, has lobbied on behalf of the payday lending industry that takes advantage of hard-working Arizonans. Paton also lost the Republican primary when he ran for Congress in Arizona’s Eighth Congressional District in 2010.
“Arizonans need a Representative who will fight for them in Washington, not a payday lending lobbyist like Jonathan Paton, who places special interests above the middle class,” said Amber Moon of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Arizona voters in the Eighth District rejected Jonathan Paton in 2010, and voters in the First Congressional District won’t trust a lobbyist carpetbagger in 2012.”
Background:
Said He Would Moved to CD1 From Tucson Home in CD2. In 2012, the Arizona Capitol Times reported, “Paton has said he will move to CD1 from his Tucson home, which is in the new 2nd Congressional District.” [Arizona Capitol Times, 1/25/12]
Paton is a Registered Lobbyist. According to the Arizona Secretary of State Lobbyist System, Paton is currently a registered lobbyist. Between 2001 and 2005, Paton was also registered as a lobbyist with the state. [Arizona Secretary of State Lobbyist System, accessed 1/23/12]
Worked for the Payday Lending Industry Association in 2004. In 2004, Paton worked for the Community Financial Services Association, the payday lending industry association. [Arizona Daily Star, 6/6/10]
Supported a Payday Industry-Written Ballot Initiative Allowing Lenders to Remain Open Indefinitely. In 2008, Paton supported an industry-written ballot initiative that would allow payday lenders to remain open indefinitely, overriding a law that required them to shut down in 2010. Under the initiative, payday lenders would “continue to be allowed indefinitely making short-term loans with fees that are equal to 390 percent annual interest, but with new restrictions on how they deal with customers.” [Arizona Daily Star, 9/25/08; Arizona Capitol Times, 4/02/10; Arizona Daily Star, 10/19/08]
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