The Bulletin’s Oct. 3 editorial comment does a disservice to Sen. Dick Durbin. Studies showed the interchange fee to average about 44 cents per transaction, versus a cost for handling of about 10 cents. So he recommended that the fee be held to a maximum of 24 cents. That still allows a markup over cost of 140 percent.

I suspect that most producers and retailers would be delighted to enjoy that kind of margin. But this isn’t on the product, but merely on a hidden transaction that is not apparent to the purchaser. Aren’t the banks the primary beneficiary of this fee? And now they want to add additional fees? Who do we think is looking out for our interests more: the banks or senators like Dick Durbin?

Bob Rossio

Sisters