WASHINGTON — An editorial in The Hill, a noted newspaper covering politics and Capitol Hill, has linked long time rivals CUNA and the American Bankers Association in their opposition to the sweeping regulatory reform plan introduced by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on March 31.

The April 2 editorial quoted both CUNA CEO Dan Mica and ABA president Edward Yingling criticizing different parts of the plan that addressed the elimination of charters. The paper called the criticisms raised “serious” and noted that Congress should take heed.

“The economic downturn and Wall Street's concomitant disasters present a real challenge for genuine and substantive reform. But, sadly, they also present a golden opportunity for posturing and cheap point-scoring,” the paper wrote.

“In election season, the temptations of such an issue are obvious. But we hope lawmakers will decide that their maxim should be the same as that of doctors — first do no harm.”