America First President/CEO Rick Craig stated, “That to me is the key to the future of credit unions…Where we really have to be effective is getting candidates elected.” The CEO travels to various states talking with credit union groups about political involvement and serves on CUNA's Governmental Affairs Committee.

“I think we had an impact on that,” Cox added regarding Bishop's election and acknowledging the work of other interest groups as well in the effort. “It's one of the most exciting things I've ever been involved in.”

After that, in 2003, the Utah bankers pushed a credit union tax bill in the state house that resulted in the elimination of member business lending and restricted real estate lending as well as a study on the taxation of credit unions.

After two years of work by the task force made up of state legislators, they devised a nonbinding resolution to propose taxation on credit unions in the U.S. Congress. America First made the rounds to the state legislators with “pages and pages and pages” of educational materials; the resolution was ultimately approved in the state house by one vote.

America First then swung into action at the federal level to help with a petition drive collecting signatures from Utah consumers opposing credit union taxation. They obtained 155,000 signatures and delivered copies to each of their five members of Congress in Washington, D.C. The resolution died.

The Utah League of Credit Unions spent $700,000 on this campaign with $500,000 of that coming from America First. In the end, the larger credit unions that the banks were targeting, including America First, converted to federal charters. “In terms of political action,” Craig explained, “we have to get the members involved.”

So America First has set up a member advocates program. “Our advocacy group is very near and dear to me. It's 20,000-plus members I communicate with as regularly as I can,” Cox explained.

She keeps in contact with them and then gets them fired up for particular campaigns or issues, encouraging them to contact their representatives. “Credit unions enjoy a very strong grassroots presence,” she noted, adding that 50% of Utahans are credit union members.

America First also offers employee training in political involvement resulting in nearly 100% registered to vote and Craig and Cox are both very active politically. “Credit unions have to get involved and leadership has to lead by example,” Craig stated. He serves as one of the local delegates that nominates candidates for party backing. Cox has worked numerous campaigns.

America First also runs a state level political action committee, the America First Development Fund, which it uses to make contributions to the league and directly to candidates.

Craig said he recalled reading a news report that politicians voted with the side that gave them the most money 96% of the time. “There's some reluctance because when you take a position you alienate part of your field of membership,” Craig recognized.

However, he said, the future of credit unions depends on it or there could be nothing left to defend. He added that credit unions' grassroots power can also help trump the money spent by the banks. –[email protected]