PHOENIX -- There was plenty of Arizona buzz last week about the possibility of congressional hearings during or after CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference next month.
Nobody was saying much in Washington among the staff at the House Financial Services Committee, which has repeatedly promised such long-awaited hearings, nor at CUNA's D.C. headquarters.
Sources in attendance at the annual GAC Conference of the Arizona Credit Union System in Phoenix said they were told a hearing is expected around the time of CUNA's GAC, and the date bandied about was March 6. The topic came up in remarks given by CUNA speakers.
"I think we're all pretty excited about that prospect," said Linda Dhaemers, chairman of the Arizona Credit Union System and president/CEO of Desert Energy FCU of Tucson.
"You know we keep hearing from our congressmen that they're just not ready to take a stand because the issue has not been heard but if this comes to pass on March 6, then we can look for them to take action," said Dhaemers.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has been promising a full committee hearing at least since the fall. His office would not confirm the March 6 date. A CUNA spokesperson also declined to comment.
--jrubenscut@aol.com
