WASHINGTON -- Credit union lobbyists expected a fairly brief and quiet lame duck session of Congress for last week concluding with a continuing resolution to fund the federal government and a new Secretary of Defense.

Nothing new was expected on the credit union front, but the lobbyists said they stand at the ready. "There's nothing on the schedule in either the House or Senate that I've seen that directly affects credit unions," CUNA Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs John Magill stated.

NAFCU Director of Political Affairs Dillon Shea explained that basically a continuing resolution through Feb. 15 is expected to sail through as well as the confirmation of a new Secretary of Defense, which CUNA, NAFCU, and the Defense Credit Union Council have all said should not impact military credit unions.

However, there is a possibility for fast-tracking a tax-extender bill, which means it would not go through the committee process. CUNA Senior Legislative Representative John Hildreth explained, "It's not on the schedule yet this week but it very well could come up at the last minute."

"And if it is fast-tracked there's all sorts of room for mischief in a last minute tax extender bill that's being headed by Chairman Bill Thomas so we will be on the alert," Magill said.

The lame duck session was expected to close late last week until the opening of the Democrat-controlled 110th Congress.

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Credit Union Lobbyists Expecting Quiet Lame Duck, Potential for Tax 'Mischief'

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