TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida credit unions discussed unfounded bank attacks and brought their concerns about the issue to state legislators during the Florida Advocacy Conference hosted by the Florida Credit Union Association (FCUA) in the state’s capital.
FCUA is a division of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates (LSCU & Affiliates).
On the first day of the conference, both LSCU & Affiliates CEO Patrick La Pine and the league’s Florida advocacy team briefed the 70 participants from credit unions across the state on important league and legislative issues, including those related to banks challenging the credit union tax status, the organization said.
Immediately following that briefing, attendees met with more than 50 lawmakers at the capitol, including Senate President Bill Galvano, Senate President Designate Wilton Simpson, Speaker of the House Designate Chris Sprowls, and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“This successful event brought together our credit union leaders with lawmakers and other key policy makers. We shared meaningful conversations about important issues, including unfounded bank attacks on credit unions,” said Jared Ross, LSCU & Affiliates president. “Having these conversations in person elevates important credit union issues in the eyes of these decision makers – and we gained some important ground at this conference.”
According to the FCUA, the credit union cause has apparently been gaining support from Florida residents, as well. During the second day of the conference, Richard Gose, chief political officer for CUNA, shared results of a poll conducted late last year in Florida that showed that consumers strongly support credit unions in defending their tax status.
Attendees of the 2020 Florida Advocacy Conference also gained invaluable insights from Marian Johnson, the executive director of the Florida Chamber of Commerce; Cathi Kim, director of Inclusiv; Ben Brinkley, credit union bureau chief with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and Joe Ostrowidzki, associate regional director of programs for Region III at CUNA.
The league also used the conference to name Rep. Travis Cummings (R-Orange Park) as its 2019 Florida Lawmaker of the Year.
“This was another excellent grassroots advocacy event,” said John Rothell, senior director of governmental affairs for LSCU & Affiliates. “Our credit union advocates bring real-life examples and statistics for legislators to contemplate, rather than false rhetoric and scare tactics they usually hear from the other side.”