Credit union consultant and lobbyist Dan Mica isn't well known for going against the grain,but the Washington veteran said Wednesday he disagrees withpolitical pundits who say the 2012 election results produced astatus quo result.

“I don't see a status quo at all, I see a brand new ball game,”said Mica, a former Florida congressman and longtime CUNApresident/CEO.

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Republicans in Congress pushed an obstructionist agenda becausethey were hoping for a new congress with greater party control, andcontrol of the White House, he said. Additionally, although partycontrol of the two Capitol Hill chambers and the executive branchdidn't change, there are still a number of new players. Micapointed out that 11% of the U.S. Senate will be new members and theHouse experienced 10% turnover.

“Add that to the 94 new members from 2010, and although somewere defeated this year, you still have more than 100 members whoare first or second term,” he said.

Additionally, the former congressman likened the experience of atough campaign to post traumatic stress syndrome, saying nobody“comes out of a campaign the same way you came in.”

Those changes could mean positive traction for credit unionissues, he said. Mica said he thinks S. 2231, which would raise themember business lending cap to 27.5% of assets, will likely beattached to another piece of legislation as Congress turns awayfrom its obstructionist strategy.

“I think there are a number of vehicles it could be attachedto,” he said of the coming lame duck session. “The word I've heard over the last week fromrepresentatives of both parties is that it's better to get the mostcontentious issues out of the way in a lame duck, rather than holdit over your head for another two years.”

Mica said that means senators who hesitated to commit to memberbusiness lending legislation for fear of alienating banker supportmay “make peace” with credit unions. And, Democrats may make astatement against Republicans, who received overwhelming supportfrom the banking lobby, particularly at the presidential level.

The economy might also get a boost from election results, asCongress tackles the federal budget and fiscal cliff issues.

“I think we're one budget deal away from a thriving economy,”Mica said. And, he added, credit unions are well positioned tobenefit from a robust economy, flush with new members and perhapsnew legislation that will allow them to grow member businessloans.