Brewer and the “Keep Payday Loans” crowd: one degree of separation

by David Safier

Where does Brewer stand on payday loans, or repealing the law that would get rid of payday loans in Arizona? She's not sure. Remember the ballot measure that would have kept payday loans here? The one that lost big time?

Brewer said she couldn’t remember how she voted on the ballot measure last year that went down by a 3-2 margin. When asked by reporters if she would look into how she voted, Brewer said, “What am I going to look into… My brain?” 

And as for the concept of payday loans,

Brewer said there are many people who depend on them. “There’s a people out there that do believe there is a need,” she said.

So where does Brewer stand on the idea that payday loans are scheduled to sail off into the sunset this summer? She's not saying. But she has friends.

The industry has hired former attorney general Grant Woods, who is the co-chairman of Brewer’s election campaign, and Chuck Coughlin, a key political advisor to the governor, to repeal a law forcing payday lenders to shut down this summer.

Coughlin headed Brewer's gubernatorial transition team, along with his lobbying firm, HighGround.

Brewer sees no conflict in her close and continuing relationship with the people who will be twisting arms in the legislature and talking with her about her ongoing campaign strategy.