WASHINGTON -
Lott's retirement from the Senate was a surprise to most observers, coming just a year after being elected to a fourth term in the Senate. Observers said they believe the retirement is being timed because of new lobbying rules that take effect in January requiring congressional members to wait two years, instead of the current one-year requirement, before they can begin lobbying their former colleagues.
The 66-year-old Lott has spent his entire adult life on Capitol Hill, first as a staffer for a Democratic member of the House, then, after switching parties, as a Republican House member and, since 1988, as senator.
While Lott will long be remembered for a poorly worded birthday greeting for former South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, which was interpreted by some to be an endorsement of Thurmond's early segregationist policies, he left a mark on credit unions in several ways.
First, he was Senate Majority Leader when the credit union lobby pushed HR 1151, the landmark CU Membership Access Act, through the Senate on its way to final passage in 1998.
But Lott was also responsible for bringing Dennis Dollar, the president of Gulfport (Miss.) FCU and a political ally, to Washington and the NCUA board, where Dollar eventually served for more than seven years, the last four as chairman.
Dollar acknowledged Lott's role last week, saying Lott summoned him in 1997 when a seat opened up on the NCUA board and persuaded him to leave his $32-million credit union for Washington. "Without his support, I would never have had the incredible opportunity to serve at NCUA. I will always value his counsel, support and friendship," Dollar said.
This reporter will always remember the day in 1994 when Lott was elected to succeed Bob Dole as Senate Majority Leader. That's when a delegation from CUNA, including then-chief lobbyist Chuck Zuver, then-senior lobbyist John McKechnie, Mississippi CU League President Charles Elliott and Pete Avara, president of Mississippi's Navigator CU and a long-time friend of Lott's, and myself, were treated to a tour of Lott's new offices with a commanding view of Washington.
There was no question that Lott was a long-time credit union supporter and would be available to help if credit unions ever needed him. Four years later, Lott helped guide HR 1151 through the Senate.
Lott's retirement came as another major player, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, was sneaking out of town and into early retirement. The 14-term Illinois Republican announced his retirement last August and was expected to leave at the end of his two-year term, but left Congress in mid-term last week, setting up a special election for his seat next February. Hastert will be remembered for his effect on credit unions because of his role in pushing through the long-sought bankruptcy reform bill while he headed the House.
The dual retirements will leave a big void in the Republican leadership in Congress and join other key GOP retirements in making it increasingly unlikely that Republicans will be able to regain control of Congress in next year's elections.
Among the departures in the Senate are senior Republicans John Warner of Virginia, Pete Domenici of New Mexico, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Larry Craig of Idaho.
At least 16 Republicans have announced they are leaving the House. They include: James Saxton, Deborah Pryce, Jerry Weller, Ralph Regula, Ray Lahood, David Hobson, Rick Renzi and Mike Ferguson. In addition, two Republican House members have died recently, Paul Gilmor and JoAnn Davis.
