Former Governor Chris Christie and former Mayor Rahm Emanuel discussed bipartisan policy strategies and shared their views on current issues driving Washington during a panel discussion today at the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC).
CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle moderated the discussion which focused on bridging the gap between both sides of the aisle. Christie and Emanuel highlighted the need for compromise in a divided Congress.
“People don’t spend as much time together as they used to; people don’t talk to each other as much as they should,” Christie said. “That’s where I think that the relationships that President Biden has created over his 36 years in the Senate and his time in the Vice Presidency can help to lead to a greater opportunity for bipartisanship.”
“Today’s opponents can be tomorrow’s allies,” Emanuel added when discussing President Biden’s meeting with Republican senators during his first few days in office. “When the House and Senate are as close as they are, every inch matters.”
Nussle asked how the trend of executive orders impacts the legislative environment. Both Christie and Emanuel noted that while it is too early to determine the effectiveness of executive orders, it is a testament to the administration’s frustration with the current legislative process.
Christie and Emanuel gave credit union advocates advice on how to effectively advance the policy concerns. “Let’s listen first,” Christie said. “We need to listen to each other more, understand the political needs on both sides, and figure out how to get them done.”
“Showing the role [credit unions] play in growing the economy and what you can do to be a lynchpin in small town America will make you a good ally for the Democratic administration,” Emanuel added.
The keynote session was sponsored by CUNA Mutual Group.
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