Unsurprisingly, and with little sense of shame, the State Senate and the Governor joined the State House, and passed a bill that puts even more of their constituents at risk from predators, as they legalized Wall Street's latest scam, for-profit credit counseling. (The last time I talked about this bill, I was greeted with a finger-jabbing tirade from a State Rep who called me a demagogue, and then started threatening me.)

The refrain from Dwight Evans is familiar:

Evans said for-profit companies have found ways to reach clients for years despite a ban on their operation. He said his bill will for the first time impose licensing requirements and give the state Department of Banking the authority to regulate the industry.

"In a Wild West, unregulated environment, anything can happen," Evans said in an interview. "Now both nonprofits and for-profits will have to meet standards, and consumers will know they're dealing with a regulated industry."

Yes, if there is anything that tells you that an industry will closely follow your law, it is the fact that an industry ignores your law.

I think I am going to start a business called Dan's Pickpocket. I will do it for a couple years, spread some lobbying dough and muscle around in Harrisburg, and then demand my industry be legitimized. Hell, maybe my pickpocketing futures could get rated, securitized and sold? Then we would be talking!

(And thank you for the parting gift to your legacy, Senator Fumo!)

Let's play a game! I call it, What is Dumber? I think the rules will be clear pretty quickly!

OK, OK, what is dumber?

A) Your hometown is being crushed under a tidal wave of predatory lenders. In response, your City Council passes a bill to protect Philly homeowners. However, even though you are from that City, you kill the law, and let the market feast on vulnerable consumers for years more. You say at the time that if more regulation is needed, you will provide it. Years go by, 40,000 foreclosures are filed in your city. And you do nothing. (This would be the Dwight Evans/ Vince Fumo approach from 2001.)

B) Fast forward 7 years, the house of cards that is Wall Street has finally fallen. The Federal Government now looks like it will provide a 700 billion dollar golden parachute for stockholders and CEO's. Meanwhile, those homeowners who haven't been foreclosed yet have their only real hope coming from local advocates, City Council/the Mayor, and a couple creative Judges who have banded together to help them. In response, rather than pitching in to help your constituents (you know, the ones you screwed 7 years earlier), you legalize a Wall Street industry ripe with fraud, with an entire business model focused on going after vulnerable homeowners. (This is the Dwight Evans approach from 2008, as we wait to see if Vince joins in.)

So, quiz: Which is dumber?

(And hey Fumo, is this really what want your last bill to be?)