Supporting WBA’s Advocacy Initiatives

Bankers look ahead to WBA Capitol Day, Washington summits, spring elections

By Lorenzo Cruz

With the 2023–24 legislative biennium underway and a great deal of banking-related activity on the horizon, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) government relations team is off to a busy start.

As Governor Tony Evers vies with a Republicancontrolled legislature to spend a record $7B State budget surplus, our team is looking ahead to opportunities in the state budget to address concerns related to tax relief, economic development, and general fiscal policies impacting the industry.

Aside from the State budget, this year WBA also plans to navigate the legislative process to pass legislation on several other key issues including elder fraud, banking modernization, and the trust code as well as guard against harmful credit union expansion/acquisitions, credit card swipe fees (interchange), and privacy reform.

With so much in store this year, it is imperative that members of the WBA make their voices heard on issues impacting them.

Why Our Advocacy Matters

Like our Association, the Wisconsin credit unions host a day at the State Capitol each year. In January, over 200 credit union activists donned their red and black scarves and lined the hallways of the Capitol in Madison to lobby their state legislators in person on their top priorities like credit union modernization — which is a deceptive ruse from WBA’s perspective that calls for broadening of the credit unions’ powers to further unlevel the playing field while still exploiting and leveraging their tax-exempt status.

Advocacy Update

Lorenzo Cruz

WBA/ABA Washington Summit March 20–22  Washington, D.C. aba.com/training-events

WBA Capitol Day April 26  Madison wisbank.com/CapDay

WBA/ICBA Capital Summit May 14–17  Washington, D.C. icba.org/capitalsummit

See ad on p. 32 for details.

With this in mind, it is vital that the membership to turn out in force on WBA’s Capitol Day on Wednesday, April 26 with a comparable or larger presence to counteract their lobbying efforts and remind legislators and staff that banks invest in and serve their communities too.

Legislators need to hear from local members who live in their districts that banks are also vital economic development pillars of their communities that help make dreams a reality but without the advantage of a tax exemption and often with more regulatory requirements to meet like the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).

How Can You Assist in WBA’s Advocacy Efforts?

In addition to registering to attend WBA’s Capitol Day on April 26, there are several ways banks and individual members may choose to elevate WBA’s advocacy efforts. Between new and existing political giving opportunities, bankers are encouraged to find the best way to engage and support our advocacy efforts and infrastructure.

This year, WBA introduced a new initiative — the Leadership Circle — recognizing major investors who contribute to the PAC and conduit. Many will also be familiar with the Silver Triangle Club award for individuals, the Gold Triangle Club award (the second-highest level of fundraising recognition for banks), and the ability to make corporate contributions to our issue advocacy fund.

Lastly, member banks should strive to achieve the pinnacle grassroots advocacy award, Bankers Involved in Grassroots and Government (BIGG). BIGG honorees are recognized at WBA’s annual Bank Executives Conference for receiving the highest level of grassroots activism by meeting five of seven established criteria.

WBA urges advocacy officers and c-suite executives to take an active role to help WBA meet its 2023 political fundraising goal of $300,000; increasing the number of attendees at Capitol Day and Kohler outing-issue advocacy event; and growing participants in the Leadership Circle, Silver Triangle, Gold Triangle, and BIGG. By collaborating with members and working together on the advocacy front, WBA can effectively focus its energy and resources on protecting the interest of the banking community while advancing the Association’s key priorities in 2023.

Be Sure to Vote April 10! Make sure you head to the polls on April 10 as Wisconsinites cast their vote in the State Supreme Court race and voters in the 8th State Senate District — which is located north of Milwaukee and includes parts of Whitefish Bay, Brown Deer, Cedarburg, Grafton, Menomonee Falls, and Germantown — will determine if the GOP regains a 22–11 supermajority in a special election.

Cruz is WBA vice president –government relations.

Introducing

WBA Announces New GR Director

The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is pleased to announce Tyler Foti as the Association’s director – government relations. Foti previously served as a legislative aide for then State Senator Scott Fitzgerald and in various positions navigating the tfoti@wisbank.com legislative process and public policy, most recently at Michael Best Strategies.

Sitting currently as a Waukesha County Board Supervisor and serving on the Finance Committee, Foti enjoys collaborating with local leaders and providing solutions that produce immediate impact. He looks forward to working with state government officials and their staff on behalf of Wisconsin’s banking industry.