The debate over predatory lending took a bizarre – and potentially troubling – turn with the introduction of new legislation designed to reduce demand for home-equity loans by restoring the ability of borrowers to deduct the interest on non-mortgage consumer loans from their taxes. The bill, H.R. 2969, would allow borrowers to deduct up to $10,000 annually, adjusted for inflation, in credit card, auto loan and other forms of interest from their taxes. Additionally, the