Big money wins again

There’s little chance that President Trump will veto the measure just passed by Congress to kill consumers’ best shot at a level playing field with banks big and small. After all, it was Vice-President Mike Pence who cast the tie-breaking Senate vote to slay a rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that would have barred fine print in credit card, banking, cellphone and loan contracts that forces consumers to resolve disputes in private arbitration — denying them opportunity to band together and file lawsuits when wronged and compel changes in corporate practices.

“Congress is standing up for everyday consumers,” heralded the official White House statement. No parsing can render those words honest.

For the bitter truth, listen to Denise Rohan, speaking up for America’s military veterans as national commander of the American Legion: “We will not be silent while banks and payday loan shops rip off servicemembers and veterans.”

She pleads with Trump to override Congress, to give the little guy with little money a fighting chance against bank lawyers who, the CFPB found, win 90% of arbitrations.

In vain. Not even the men and women who served and sacrificed can expect a fair fight.