BURNSVILLE, Minn. – More and more credit unions are not only intouch with their state's congressman, they are getting to meet withthem face to face. US Federal Credit Union recently hostedCongressman John Kline (R-Minn.) at its Burnsville headquarterslast week for a discussion on credit unions and current issues inWashington, D.C. Rep. Kline represents 12,000 of US FCU's members.The league was also present. “Personal credit union visits are anexcellent way to educate members of Congress about the credit uniondifference, particularly relative newcomers like CongressmanKline,” said Kevin Chandler, President & CEO of the MinnesotaCredit Union Network. Rep. Kline discussed the tax status of creditunions. Kline said he doesn't think that Rep. Bill Thomas(R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, hasreceived a lot of support for his suggestion to hold a hearing toexamine the tax status of credit unions. Kline believes that fieldof membership restriction will be the next battle credit unionswill have to fight. “Credit unions have an enormous amount ofpolitical support,” Rep. Kline said. “There is not a groundswell ofsupport for changing how credit unions are treated under the taxcode, but the clash goes on.” Kline addressed bankruptcy reform. Heattributed the lack of bankruptcy activity in this session to theSenate's partisanship and predicted it would take an election topass bankruptcy reform legislation. He also discussed healthcare,the 9/11 commission report, the PATRIOT Act and recentcampaigning.