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	<title>Massachusetts State Senator Karen Spilka &#187; Consumer Protection</title>
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	<description>Proudly representing the 2nd Middlesex &#38; Norfolk district!</description>
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		<title>Massachusetts State Senator Karen Spilka &#187; Consumer Protection</title>
		<link>http://karenspilka.com</link>
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		<title>October 16-22: National Protect Your Identity Week</title>
		<link>http://karenspilka.com/2011/10/19/october-16-22-national-protect-your-identity-week/</link>
		<comments>http://karenspilka.com/2011/10/19/october-16-22-national-protect-your-identity-week/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:32:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Senator Karen Spilka</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Protection]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://karenspilka.com/?p=2498</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Consumers across the nation, including here in the Commonwealth, are encouraged to participate in National Protect Your Identity Week (PYIW) October 16th to 22nd. Every year, more than 10 million Americans are victims of identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). National Protect Your Identity Week was launched four years ago by the [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=karenspilka.com&amp;blog=1022509&amp;post=2498&amp;subd=karenspilka&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
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			<media:title type="html">Senator Karen Spilka</media:title>
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		<title>Senator Karen Spilka and AG Martha Coakley File Legislation Requiring Loan Modifications to Address Foreclosure Crisis</title>
		<link>http://karenspilka.com/2011/01/27/senator-karen-spilka-and-ag-martha-coakley-file-legislation-requiring-loan-modifications-to-address-foreclosure-crisis/</link>
		<comments>http://karenspilka.com/2011/01/27/senator-karen-spilka-and-ag-martha-coakley-file-legislation-requiring-loan-modifications-to-address-foreclosure-crisis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:44:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Senator Karen Spilka</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Protection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://karenspilka.com/?p=1973</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[“This bill is an important tool to stabilize the housing industry and provide much-needed protections for homeowners,” stated Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), the Senate sponsor of the bill.  “The squeeze on homeowners is painful enough already in this climate; we must make sure banks are dealing fairly with homeowners by providing proper documentation and only foreclosing when absolutely necessary. At the same time, we must give banks the tools to provide home loan modifications when economically feasible. All of these steps will provide much needed stability in the housing market and allow both owners and lenders to move forward.”<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=karenspilka.com&amp;blog=1022509&amp;post=1973&amp;subd=karenspilka&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
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			<media:title type="html">Senator Karen Spilka</media:title>
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		<title>Senator Spilka Votes for Foreclosure and Mortgage Fraud Protection, Silver Alert Legislation</title>
		<link>http://karenspilka.com/2010/07/28/senator-spilka-votes-for-foreclosure-and-mortgage-fraud-protection-silver-alert-legislation/</link>
		<comments>http://karenspilka.com/2010/07/28/senator-spilka-votes-for-foreclosure-and-mortgage-fraud-protection-silver-alert-legislation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:30:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Senator Karen Spilka</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Protection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seniors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://karenspilka.com/?p=1780</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With home foreclosures continuing to rise in the Commonwealth in spite of the improving economy, Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) joined her colleagues today in sending final consumer protection legislation to the Governor that protects both homeowners and tenants from mortgage fraud and arbitrary evictions.  The Senate also approved "Silver Alert" legislation designed to protect seniors stricken with Alzheimer's.<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=karenspilka.com&amp;blog=1022509&amp;post=1780&amp;subd=karenspilka&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Senator Karen Spilka</media:title>
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		<title>MWDN: Too young to tan? Legislature considers measure restricting teens from salons</title>
		<link>http://karenspilka.com/2010/05/03/mwdn-too-young-to-tan-legislature-considers-measure-restricting-teens-from-salons/</link>
		<comments>http://karenspilka.com/2010/05/03/mwdn-too-young-to-tan-legislature-considers-measure-restricting-teens-from-salons/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 May 2010 15:15:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Senator Karen Spilka</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children, Families & Persons with Disabilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer Protection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://karenspilka.com/?p=1677</guid>
		<description><![CDATA["Research has shown teens who use (tanning beds) have an increased risk of skin cancer by 75 percent," said bill supporter Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland. "... We have an obligation to do something to help raise awareness."<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=karenspilka.com&amp;blog=1022509&amp;post=1677&amp;subd=karenspilka&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Senator Karen Spilka</media:title>
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		<title>Senator Spilka Votes to Pass a Number of Consumer Protection Bills, Including Foreclosure Protection</title>
		<link>http://karenspilka.com/2010/04/30/senator-spilka-votes-to-pass-a-number-of-consumer-protection-bills-including-foreclosure-protection/</link>
		<comments>http://karenspilka.com/2010/04/30/senator-spilka-votes-to-pass-a-number-of-consumer-protection-bills-including-foreclosure-protection/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:37:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Senator Karen Spilka</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Protection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seniors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://karenspilka.com/?p=1674</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With home foreclosures continuing to rise in the Commonwealth in spite of the improving economy, Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) voted on Thursday for legislation that protects residents from mortgage fraud, protects tenants in foreclosed properties from arbitrary evictions and helps people stay in their homes.  The legislation, part of a series of consumer protection bills that passed the Senate, was approved unanimously.<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=karenspilka.com&amp;blog=1022509&amp;post=1674&amp;subd=karenspilka&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://karenspilka.com/2010/04/30/senator-spilka-votes-to-pass-a-number-of-consumer-protection-bills-including-foreclosure-protection/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Senator Karen Spilka</media:title>
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		<title>Important Information For Homeowners Who Heat With Oil</title>
		<link>http://karenspilka.com/2010/01/15/important-information-for-homeowners-who-heat-with-oil/</link>
		<comments>http://karenspilka.com/2010/01/15/important-information-for-homeowners-who-heat-with-oil/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:33:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Senator Karen Spilka</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Protection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment & Energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://karenspilka.com/?p=1152</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By July 1, 2010, homeowners who heat their homes with oil must upgrade their home heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes connecting to the furnace.  By making a relatively small expenditure now, you can prevent a much greater expense in the future.<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=karenspilka.com&amp;blog=1022509&amp;post=1152&amp;subd=karenspilka&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://karenspilka.com/2010/01/15/important-information-for-homeowners-who-heat-with-oil/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Senator Karen Spilka</media:title>
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		<title>Spilka&#8217;s Bill Supports Mediation in Forclosure Process</title>
		<link>http://karenspilka.com/2009/10/23/spilkas-bill-supports-mediation-in-forclosure-process/</link>
		<comments>http://karenspilka.com/2009/10/23/spilkas-bill-supports-mediation-in-forclosure-process/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:08:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Senator Karen Spilka</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Protection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Towns]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://karenspilka.com/?p=743</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By David Riley/Daily News staff Milford Daily News When homeowners who face foreclosure turn to MetroWest Legal Services for help, many face a simple barrier &#8211; getting their mortgage company on the phone to talk about a compromise. &#8220;Communication with a lender &#8211; that&#8217;s half the battle right there,&#8221; said Megan Christopher, a supervising attorney [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=karenspilka.com&amp;blog=1022509&amp;post=743&amp;subd=karenspilka&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://karenspilka.com/2009/10/23/spilkas-bill-supports-mediation-in-forclosure-process/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/9f80c39ea9706891f3f82e0711ae1760?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Senator Karen Spilka</media:title>
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		<title>MA Department of Health Warning Reflects Senator’s BPA Bill</title>
		<link>http://karenspilka.com/2009/08/05/mass-department-of-health-warning-reflects-senator%e2%80%99s-anti-bpa-bill/</link>
		<comments>http://karenspilka.com/2009/08/05/mass-department-of-health-warning-reflects-senator%e2%80%99s-anti-bpa-bill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:12:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Senator Karen Spilka</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children, Families & Persons with Disabilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer Protection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://karenspilka.com/?p=429</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This warning reflects the importance of the BPA issue raised in Senate Bill 432, An Act to Protect children from Bisphenol-A,  filed by Senator Spilka in January of 2009. The bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of toys or child-care articles (such as baby bottles and sippy cups) intended for use by children under the age of three.

As the federal government has not yet moved to ban BPA, some state governments have already taken this important public health issue into their own hands.  Minnesota and Connecticut have passed legislation banning baby-bottles that contain BPA. Effective in 2011, these laws are similar to the one proposed by Senator Spilka.<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=karenspilka.com&amp;blog=1022509&amp;post=429&amp;subd=karenspilka&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://karenspilka.com/2009/08/05/mass-department-of-health-warning-reflects-senator%e2%80%99s-anti-bpa-bill/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Senator Karen Spilka</media:title>
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