Debtors could be carefully scrutinized and compared to the national median family income. Debtors that have income minus necessary expenditures, when multiplied by 60 months that is not less than 25 percent of the debtor's nonpriority unsecured claims in the case or $5,000, whichever is less would have their cases dismissed by the court as an `abuse'.Mandatory credit counseling before filing, except in exigent cases, and in those cases, then within 30 days thereafter. The debtor would have to file with the court a certificate of compliance from the counselor and a copy of the debt repayment plan created by the counselor. A failure to file the above documents could lead to an automatic dismissal.Non-dischargeability of most debts incurred within 90 days of filing.Non-dischargeability of debts incurred to pay non-dischargeable debts (e.g. alimony, support, taxes, drunk driving claims, etc.)A severe reduction on what is considered "household goods" (this has a great effect on exemptions and avoiding certain types of liens that lenders sometimes take on personal property and household goods to coerce debtors to pay after filing). Sanctions on debtors and their counsel for filing a chapter 7 that should have been a chapter 13.Provisions effectively forcing debtors to pay full amounts due on depreciated secured property (i.e. a refrigerator from Sears) in order to retain that property.Increasing the time between filing from six years to eight years.Preventing debtors from filing "Chapter 20's," that is, a chapter 13 following a chapter 7. However, the changes proposed could affect who can file. Forcing debtors to attach three to five years worth a tax returns to their schedules, and this may be arguably true even if the debtor did not have to file with the IRS because of no income (can you imagine filling out five returns with nothing but 0's?). (Rubin, 2001)This much could take away the rights of ordinary citizens, just because some...
