Long overdue

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, is sponsoring a bill to hold data brokers more accountable for preventing identity theft. He's also for a Senate measure that pretty much would end Social Security number sales, despite some corporate opposition. "My sense is I want to err on the side of the consumer," Davis said.

No congressman wants to be the one who voted for identity theft, so some form of this legislation, probably a watered-down version, likely will pass soon.