Arizonans for Responsible Lending has released an internet ad that employs humor in alerting voters to what they see as the dangers associated with Proposition 200.

Titled "Lenny the Loanshark," the ad features a mafia-type payday lender explaining how Prop. 200 would benefit him and his "associates."

Prop. 200 proposes reforms on the payday lending industry, such as lowering the fees such lenders can charge and restricting borrowers from repeatedly extending loans or taking out new loans after they already have one. The law that allows payday lending in Arizona will sunset in 2010 unless another law intervenes to keep it legal - which is what Prop. 200 would do.

Arizonans for Responsible Lending, which is comprised of several organizations and unions including the Service Employees International Union and AARP, and is being directed by the Tucson-based political consulting firm Strategic Issues Management Group, want to see the proposition defeated precisely because they are in favor of letting payday lending sunset.

However, the group faces tough opposition. Yes on 200 raised just under $9 million in the effort to promote the measure, whereas those opposed to Prop. 200 don't even come close to competing on a financial basis.