So in 2005, when Clinton not only agreed to speak at an NCUA-sponsored Partnering and Leadership Successes workshop in Rochester, but also announce her support of the group's multimillion dollar underserved lending initiative, New York credit unions couldn't have been more pleased.

"Someone like Senator Clinton who is so high-profile requires creativity and the ability to reach out and create opportunities for her, and I'm so proud of our credit unions for having done that," said Amy Kramer, league vice president of governmental affairs. "It's exciting to think that perhaps the next president is someone they know first hand."

Clinton hasn't been in office long enough to have voted on any major credit union legislation, but Kramer said she's publicly supported New York credit unions, as well as other cooperative and micro-lending programs, on more than one occasion. Clinton also co-sponsored league-supported remittance and wire legislation in 2004.

Though CURIA sponsorship has focused primarily on House representatives thus far, the league has already discussed the reform legislation with Clinton's staff, as well as fellow New York Senator Charles Schumer.

"We've met with them ever since CURIA has been a twinkle in our eye, and they're absolutely aware of it," Kramer said. "As far as a plan to sign Clinton on as a co-sponsor, we just make sure she's informed and keep a good relationship with her and her staff."

Kramer declined to speculate how a President Hillary Clinton might act on the Treasury Department's recommendations, but said, "I do know she recognizes the value of credit unions."

Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.)

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Last month's New York Times profile of Stanley Ann Soetoro revealed a potential hidden weapon for credit unions should Barack Obama win: the senator's mother developed micro-lending programs in Indonesia, working with U.S. government agencies, the Ford Foundation and Women's World Banking.

Her do-gooder legacy values seemed to have rubbed off on the presidential candidate, who has a history of community activism and support of underserved populations.

Like Clinton, Obama hasn't voted on any major credit union legislation, but he scored 100% on a gut check issues questionnaire he completed for the Illinois Credit Union League back in 2004, said Don Edwards, ICUL senior vice president for governmental affairs.

The questionnaire asked Obama's support of key issues: the power and independence of the NCUA, a separate national share insurance fund, and the continued tax-exempt status of credit unions.

"All those answers were yes, and that's pretty big. We don't get that as often as we'd like," Edwards said.

In light of the Treasury Department's recommendations, Edwards said he feels comfortable that a President Obama would stick by his word and maintain the current credit union regulatory structure. However, the league isn't taking any chances.

"We're one of a thousand standing in line right now, but I would like to reaffirm his positions, especially in light of the recent Treasury task force report," he said.

Edwards said he's read that Obama is in favor of some sort of financial industry reform, but said he doesn't know what Obama's position is regarding the Treasury's recommendations. However, he's confident the league will get face time with the campaigning senator prior to the election, thanks to a history of good dialogue with Obama and his legislative staffer, Ian Solomon.

"If he wins the nomination, we'll definitely need to sit down and have a pow-wow with him, and since it's a bigger issue than Illinois, that meeting would probably include representatives from the entire credit union system," he said.

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.)

PHOENIX — Presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain has a long, favorable history of credit union support, having spent 21 years in the senate and additional four previous years in the House.

McCain voted in favor of H.R. 1151 in 1998, and joined Senate Republicans in voting yes on bankruptcy reform a few years back.

"As far as his belief on what credit unions do and how they serve the members of Arizona, he's always been positive toward credit unions," said Austin DeBey, vice president of government affairs for the Arizona Credit Union System.

DeBey said McCain, who has a well-publicized military past, serves on the Armed Services Committee and has been busy with war-related issues during the Bush presidency, leaving him little time for credit union dialogue. And, like Senator Clinton, his high international profile places an even higher premium on his Russell Building office hours.

"In fact, our last meeting with him happened to fall on the same day he got endorsed by President Bush, so he took that meeting instead," DeBey said, adding, "but I can't imagine anybody would blame him for that."

However, DeBey said McCain doesn't make a habit of blowing off league appointments. "There hasn't been a time where we haven't been able to schedule a meeting with at least staff member." He noted that longtime McCain staffer Joe Donahue is particularly helpful.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that one-third of all Arizona residents are credit union members, and many in the Grand Canyon state are retired, with the time and inclination to write or call their elected officials.

DeBey downplayed reaction from last month's Wall Street Journal article in which McCain said he would consider recommendations from President Bush regarding taxes and nonprofits, which some interpreted as a call to tax credit unions. "It was a big misunderstanding," DeBey said, "All that happened was he said he would look at the president's list, and because credit unions are tax-exempt, they're on the list."

DeBey said the silver lining to the issue was that the league discussed the statement, conveniently published during GAC, with McCain's staff and confirmed with them that McCain will not target credit unions for taxation.

"There were lots of credit union people in that meeting, since it was during GAC, and everyone was satisfied with their response," he said.

DeBey plans to meet with McCain in June to discuss CURIA and the Treasury Department's reform recommendations, and anticipates the senator will continue his industry support.

"We've done a good job of educating him and his staff on credit unions, and since he's been in Washington since 1983, we've have plenty of opportunities to represent the credit union constituency."

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