I am a recent graduate of Winona State University. Unfortunately, I began looking for a post-graduation job just as the Great Recession hit hard. Suddenly jobs disappeared, I was laid off, and my life suffered because of it. I have been prevented from beginning my career in earnest, my credit rating took a huge hit, I was almost kicked out onto the street, and my five-year relationship with a woman that meant the world to me crumbled under the pressure of my chronic unemployment.

Two groups of people bear primary responsibility for the ruination of everything I had worked for. Wall Street bankers and financiers caused the Great Recession by trying to make as much money as possible without caring about the consequences of their actions. President Bush and Republicans in Congress repeatedly blocked attempts to hold Wall Street accountable for its actions before it was too late. The result of the actions of these two groups of people was the destruction of the lives of millions of Americans.

Fortunately for us all there is one group of people making sure that Wall Street will never again ruin the lives of hard-working Americans like me: Democrats in Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives has recently passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which will increase consumer protections against predatory lending, protect future homeowners, rein in irresponsible Wall Street pay packages and end taxpayer bailouts and the “too big to fail” mentality.

I would like to thank our excellent Rep. Tim Walz for voting to protect average people like me and hold Wall Street accountable for its actions. Rep. Walz has brought great credit to the state of Minnesota in Congress. It is stunning that Minnesota’s Republican representatives, along with ALL Republicans in the House, voted against protecting the American people from Wall Street greed. Shame on them — and thank you Tim Walz.

Chris Tubbs

Winona