WASHINGTON–In remarks to CUNA’s GAC, Vice President Mike Pence moved back and forth on themes that wove support for the work credit unions do with remarks on other national issues, such as border security, the “Green New Deal” and red meat topics such as taxes and deregulation.
“It really is remarkable to think about the difference credit unions make nationwide,” said Pence, pointing to data around credit union asset growth and saying it aligns with the Trump Administration’s similar focus on creating growth.
Pence said, “America’s credit unions have no greater champion than President Donald Trump,” saying the president has signed more bills cutting red tape than any president in U.S. history, including a partial roll-back of portions of Dodd-Frank in 2018.
‘A Failed Law
“Dodd Frank made Washington bureaucrats more powerful and less accountable. It was in every sense a failed law,” said Pence. “A mountain of red tape created a tremendous burden on America’s credit unions and ultimately, your members.”
Pence said the 25% decline in the number of credit unions since enactment of the law a decade ago is due in large part to the Dodd-Frank law.
“Now you can go out and do what you do best, serving communities across America,” said Pence.
Pence cited what he said are a number of accomplishments by the Trump Administration, including become a net exporter of energy in 2020, and the creation of 5.3 million new jobs, especially in manufacturing.
“The truth is the American Dream is working for every American once again and credit unions are a part of that,” Pence said.
Border Security
Pence said the Trump Administration understands “security is the foundation of our prosperity.”
“If you don’t have a border, you don’t have a country,” said Pence. “Whatever you hear in the national media, the truth is we have a crisis on our southern border. It’s a crisis of illegal immigration, drugs, and human trafficking. It’s a crisis like we’ve never seen before.”
Pence called the situation on the border “heart-breaking.”
“I know the role credit unions play in your communities. Your involved in every worthy cause and every charity,” he said. “So, when stories are told of heartbreak, you’ve already heard those stories.”
Pence said poor border security has also driven the opioid crisis in the United States.
“Despite that fact he has clear statutory authority to act, some in Congress are trying to stop the president from using his authority to address the crisis along the southern border,” said Pence. “A vote against the president’s emergency declaration is a vote against border security, it’s a vote to deny the real security and humanitarian crisis happening at our southern border. We are asking every member of the U.S. Senate to set aside politics and to put the safety and security of the American people first.”
Pence said once the border situation is addressed, the Trump Administration plans to work with Congress to “fix our broken immigration system once and for all.”
‘Small Town Guy’
Before closing, Pence, a former member of Congress and governor of Indiana who met with credit unions in both of those positions, said he is a “small town guy from Southern Indiana. I know the difference credit unions make.”
Pence also called on credit unions while lobbying on the Hill to ensure America does not become a socialist country, saying “liberals in Washington” are pushing for the “same old, tired systems” that have “stifled” the lives of many people. Socialism, he said, means “more government, more taxes, more spending, and less freedom.”
“Medicare for all means quality health care for no one,” he said. “And the only green in the Green New Deal is how much it’s going to cost all of us if it’s ever passed into law. The moment America becomes a socialist country is the day America ceases to become America.”