United to Play Defense Against Durbin
groups in issuing a statement of strong opposition to the bill. We then followed this up with numerous letters, op-eds, grassroots calls to action and co-branded ads with the Texas and Kansas bankers associations that ran in their respective districts. Te efforts were amplified by an op-ed from the Florida Bankers Association and a creative “Don’t Let Congress Steal Your Credit Card Rewards!” social media campaign from the Missouri Bankers Association. In early December, we then expanded that effort into an
all-out media blitz to stave off any last-minute efforts to attach the bill to a must-pass piece of year-end legislation.
Every step of the way, our efforts at the national level were complemented by robust advocacy efforts by our partners at the state bankers associations who stepped up to make calls, attend Washington fly-ins, pen letters and columns, and even appear on national TV to address our concerns about the bill. Together, we blanketed Capitol Hill with a succinct, united message: the
Credit Card Competition Act is terrible public policy that should not be enacted.
Our combined efforts proved the hollowness of this bill — it failed to attract a single co-sponsor beyond the initial two in both the House and Senate or gain enough support to advance as a standalone measure, and it was successfully blocked from any other bills moving through Congress as the lame-duck session came to a close.
Tis win underscores the tremendous value of our state association alliance and demonstrates the power that our industry can have when we unite behind one message. It’s also an important reminder about vigilance.
We can’t say for certain whether and how these bad ideas will rear their heads again in Congresses to come. But what we can say is that if they do, our industry will be ready to respond.
Email Rob Nichols at rnichols@
aba.com.
THE MISSOURI BANKER 7
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