Faced with a struggling economy, the Irish credit union community is looking for options to save as many credit unions as possible.

Years ago before my time in credit unions, CUNA and NAFCU decided one would hold its Governmental Affairs Conference at the beginning of the congressional session and NAFCU would target the end. The lines have blurred some and lobbying receives more emphasis on the whole.

WASHINGON Election year partisanship and controversy largely elbowed credit union topics off the agenda on the first day of NAFCU's 2012 Congressional Caucus. The annual event began Sept. 12, right at the beginning of a short congressional session before legislators head home to campaign for the November elections.