Sept. 12, 2012 – NAFCU Chair Mike Parsons writes in a Sept. 11 CU Journal editorial that this is “an especially critical time” for credit unions to be engaged politically given the “substantial” consequences of the upcoming election.
Parsons’ editorial, published to coincide with NAFCU’s 2012 Congressional Caucus this week, notes that the candidates who win this fall “will be among the power players in Washington making key decisions about all the issues that will impact us, including tax policy, regulation, the future of the housing finance system and consumer protection.” With that in mind, credit unions must engage elected officials about credit union issues and tell them why they are important, he said.
Parsons also urges credit unions to rally behind the credit union-friendly lawmakers who are up for reelection, including Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., and Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif. Some of these lawmakers are in close races, he notes.
While NAFCU’s Congressional Caucus allows credit unions to be “front and center with these critical decision-makers,” Parsons said credit union advocates back home can also be involved by attending local town hall meetings, engaging elected officials’ staff, participating via social media and communicating with them about their credit unions. “Let them know how many credit unions are in their district and share some of your success stories,” he said.
Parsons added that the value of credit union participation in the political process is “an investment in our future.”