DENVER – Credit unions spent the third day of the Democratic National Convention here doing much of what they did during the first two days: working to keep the credit union profile high and rubbing elbows.
“In general, our goal is to demonstrate the positive credit union message,” Ryan Donovan, VP-legislative affairs with CUNA, told Credit Union Journal. Donovan added that the crowded floor of the Pepsi Center and other gathering places are giving CUNA staffers plenty of time to mix with federal representatives, senators and members of their respective staffs. But the unique nature of the convention also is providing a platform for CUNA to spread the message down to the neighborhood level.
“Even beyond the federal policy makers, you have to remember that all of the delegates are state or local officials or leaders in their communities,” said Trey Hawkins, CUNA’s political director. On Wednesday, CUNA hosted a discussion on the key congressional races in November. Sen. Chuck Shumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) took part in the debate, which was moderated by pollster Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report.
Meanwhile, representatives of NAFCU said they have fanned out across numerous events and to date have met with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Sen. Tom Carper, (D-Del.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.). In conjunction with Lava Lamp Productions, NAFCU sponsored an event for Horton’s Kids, a non-profit organization that provides tutoring, mentoring, advocacy, enrichment and family support for children in Washington, D.C.
Two NAFCU reps were in attendance at a Blue Dog Coalition event where Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) spoke of the mortgage crisis and specifically mentioned that credit unions were not part of the problem. Moore serves on the House Financial Services Committee and co-chairs policy for the Blue Dog Coalition.
