Congressional candidate El Tinklenberg issued a statement today regarding Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s vote Tuesday against the Credit Card Holders’ Bill of Rights (HR 5224).

Read the statement after the jump.

“With record unemployment, real wages declining, and living expenses and fuel costs strangling budgets, more families than ever are relying on credit cards to make ends meet. The average American family now has nearly $10,000 of credit card debt, and most of their interest rates already seem like highway robbery. It just makes sense to ensure that consumers are protected from abusive rate increases and interest charges.”

Tinklenberg said Congresswoman Bachmann’s vote against these common-sense consumer protections yesterday demonstrates “a lack of commitment to Minnesota families on the issues they are really worried about. Bachmann talks a good game about defending family values, but what about defending families’ financial security against greedy credit card companies, or defending families’ ability to pay their bills and keep their homes?”

Tinklenberg added, “You can be sure that when I’m in Congress, I will support legislation that protects consumers against the interests of giant corporations. With this vote, Rep. Bachmann has made it clear whose side she is on, and it’s not ours.”