WASHINGTON-CUNA is rolling out a national campaign aimed at the grassroots of credit unions-their 96 million members-with the theme, "Don't tax my credit union." The message is aimed at Congress and will "urge lawmakers as part of any final tax reform plan to preserve the federal tax exemption credit unions receive as not-for-profit, member-owned cooperatives," CUNA said. The campaign comes as discussion of the CU tax exemption has come up in Congress in recent months, including the 550-page report on tax policy released by the House Ways and Means Committee and its Joint Committee on Taxation (CU Journal, May 13).
Among the elements of the new "Don't Tax My Credit Union" campaign:
* Credit unions are being contacted by CUNA with messaging to be used in reaching out to members.
* A new website, DontTaxMyCreditUnion.org has been created, which includes a short animated video. The video is also available via social media.
* CUNA said it is reaching out and engaging "influential third-party coalition members that recognize credit unions' tax status is good public policy that benefits consumers and society as a whole."
* A webinar will be hosted on the campaign on May 22 at 3 p.m. EST.
* A Twitter handle @CUNAadvocacy and hash tag #DontTaxMyCU have been created.
"It's rare that credit unions call upon their 96 million members to take action, but our members will be the best spokespeople we have, especially on an issue as vital to our future as this," said CUNA CEO Bill Cheney. "This is about more than just the commercial banks that want to see us taxed. We're vying with some 400 other organizations and industries that see their own tax status threatened. There will be a great deal of noise on Capitol Hill. We've got to be sure our voice is clearly heard. If we delay, it will be too late."
