Three things to know before you head to DC

Washington DC is the adult version of Disney Land. There are those of us who love the place and return year after year; there are those of you who visit the place, can’t stand it and vow never to return again and finally there are those of you who go simply out of a sense of obligation to your kids. No matter why you go to DC, if you are one of the more than 5,000 people joining the industry in the nation’s Capital this week, you are actually coming at one of the most unique times you are ever going to see. For me this year’s trip is not so much about specific legislation as it is about getting a sense of how credit unions can best integrate themselves into a vastly changed political landscape.

For example, there are 101 new representatives and 10 new Senators. Not only that but this is the most diverse class of representatives ever including a large influx of women and minorities. In the New York delegation alone we have 29-year-old Congresswoman/celebrity Ocasio-Cortez who personifies so many of these trends. You have to go back to Teddi Roosevelt to find a young person who has had a bigger impact on New York politics so quickly. We also have several new members including Antonio Delgado, Anthony Brindisi, Max Rose from Staten Island, and former Assemblyman Joe Morelle.

With so many new members and so many new staff, the most important thing to do next week is not simply to advocate for credit union priorities but to explain what credit unions are, how they are different from banks and why they are worth protecting. We are seeing more than a generational shift. Many of the newest members do not come from traditional political backgrounds which means that they are taking a fresh look at stale issues and wondering if things can be done differently.

 

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