On Thursday, Georgia Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson voted for a bill that prohibits ordinary Georgian families from restructuring and discharging their debts following medical emergencies and job losses. I wonder whether they’ll do the same for Atlanta-based Delta Airlines if and when it declares bankruptcy because of its own ineffective management. Not likely. In fact, the authors and sponsors of this bill went out of their way to ensure that only people and businesses with debts under $2 million are affected.

When Enron declared bankruptcy, it completely wiped out employees’ pension benefits. We’ve seen similar stories in nearly a dozen high-profile corporate bankruptcy filings. But rather than focus the spotlight on the sharp practices of their corporate contributors, Senators like Chambliss and Isakson are more comfortable attacking financially-vulnerable middle class families.