Citing critical issues before Congress on everything from card interchange and overdraft protection to business lending and regulatory reform, CUNA, joined by state leagues, has now set the week of Dec. 7 for its "National Hike The Hill" campaign.
The national event, which makes a departure from past practice of individual state leagues organizing separate "Hike the Hill" treks to Washington during this period, is being touted as a key time for the industry to make a strong case before lawmakers in addressing the financial crisis.
State leagues and CUNA have already started issuing press releases and dictums under the theme that CUs are being "penalized" for what has occurred in financial markets and on the contrary, CUs "have solved the problem" in many communities.
"The challenges facing credit unions are simply unprecedented, which is why it is so important that we have a well organized, collective grassroots effort now when lawmakers are looking at these issues," said Brett Thompson, the newly elected chairman of the American Association of Credit Union Leagues and also president/CEO of the Wisconsin Credit Union League.
Echoing Thompson, Dan Mica, president/CEO of CUNA noted that "in the hectic days that come at the end of a session, Congress often finds itself pressured by time to take action, which could end up affecting us for years to come."
Thus, "we think it important that Congress hear from credit unions before a number of these issues can come up for vote as Congress rushes to leave town days just before the holidays."
Mica in an online video posted today repeated a CUNA/league theme, "we need to step forward and let Congress know CUs are indeed the white hats. We didn't start the fire. This crisis was created by others--we helped solve it."
