INDIANAPOLIS -- Scoring wins in the Indiana primary on May 6, two incumbent congressmen thanked the Indiana Credit Union League and the state's credit unions for their support.
In Indiana's 5th Congressional District Republican primary, Rep. Dan Burton (R) won by 52% to 45%. According to the league, he thanked credit unions within the first few sentences of his victory speech.
"Credit unions had an opportunity to help his campaign in an unusual year when his re-election was not assured, so it was great to be able to help such a strong credit union supporter," said John McKenzie, ICUL president, who attended Burton's election night gathering.
Since being elected to his first term in Congress in 1982, the league said Burton has been a consistent advocate for credit unions. He is one of only three current members ofCongress who was an original co-sponsor of H.R. 1151 in 1997 and is now an original co-sponsor of the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (H.R. 1537). Burton was also named Outstanding Hoosier Legislator at the Indiana league's convention in September 2007--the third time he had received the honor since 1991, according to the league.
In Indiana's 7th Congressional District Democratic Primary, Congressman Andre Carson (D) won a tough four-way race, the league said. Carson holds a seat on the House Financial Services Committee, which was previously held by the late Julia Carson, his grandmother. Indiana credit unions supported Carson before the special election he won in March, and again in the primary.
"When we met with him in February prior to the special election, and since he began serving in Congress these past few months, Carson has expressed support for credit unions and has responded very positively to our views during legislative developments," McKenzie said. "We look forward to building further on our good relationship with him."
