Idaho businesses lobby Crapo on reforms

BOISE (AP) - With U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo on the committee set to decide the fate of the Wall Street banking industry overhaul, some Idaho businesses are now pressing him to make sure curbs on credit and debit card fees are in the final bill.

The Republican voted against the banking reforms last month, but did support an amendment to lower so-called "swipe fees."

But it's in the Senate version of the overhaul, not the House's.

Crapo is on the panel that will negotiate a compromise, likely before July 4.

Four Idaho residents will join a business-lobbying group in Washington, D.C., next week aiming to win over Crapo and others on the card-fee issue, which they blame for boosting consumers' prices and hurting their profits.

Charley Jones says his Stinker Station convenience stores have seen swipe fees rise 40 percent since 2006.