A panel of lawyers and lobbyists urged credit union housingexecutives persist in their efforts to contact Congress about theirconcerns even though partisan gridlock makes progress seem veryunlikely.

The panel of Ken Markison, Vice President and Regulatory Counselat the Mortgage Bankers Association, JohnMcKechnie, a Partner at Total Spectrum and Bart Shapiro, a Principal with the law firm of OffitKurman, addressed executives attending the American Credit UnionMortgage Association conference on September 25.

Their message was optimistic but sober, with all the panelistsagreeing that while GSE reform was gradually making progress, itwas very unlikely to be finished this year or even in 2014.

Further, the current partisan gridlock was likely to hold up anyefforts to adjust the Dodd Frank law to ameliorate defects aboutwhich there is widespread agreement.

McKechnie recounted a day this year when he met with seniorlawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee. In a 30 minutesession a Republican member reiterated his intent to do everythinghe could to repeal Dodd Frank while, in another 30 minute meeting,the Democratic lawmaker reiterated his intent to do everything hecould to protect the Dodd Frank law.

Nonetheless, the panelist urged the executives to continuecommunicating with Congress, in particular lobbying the lawmakerslocal offices. “They see us often,” McKechnie said, “but you havethe real life experience they crave and feel they don't have. Theiris no substitute for your involvement,” he added.