WASHINGTON—Jim Nussle, the former Iowa congressman who is now CUNA’s new CEO, said he is working to provide the “bold leadership” the association’s board stressed it was seeking when it hired him, is getting up to speed on both internal and external CU system challenges, and indicated he is open-minded about working with traditional enemies of credit unions when there are areas of common interest on Capitol Hill.
In an interview with CUToday.info, Nussle, who also previously led the Office of Management and Budget and who, is in just his 17th day at CUNA, said he comes into the job well aware of the power of credit union advocacy efforts in Washington, and that he believes he has a unique perspective having worked both ends of Pennsylvania Ave. in Congress and for the Bush Administration, respectively. But Nussle acknowledged that the frustration with Congress and the overall burnout some in credit unions are feeling toward advocacy are “fair points,” and added he’s unsure whether November’s elections will “break the logjam.”
Internally, Nussle said it’s too early to make a call on how CUNA’s ongoing governance review might play out, and that he is aware of the challenges small and midsize credit unions are experiencing.
Watch CUToday.info for the full interview in which Nussle also addresses advocacy at greater length, why CUs might consider working with bankers on certain issues, why the wearing of a paper bag on the floor of the House has meaning to credit unions years later, and much more.