While CUNA and NAFCU often try to one up each other, the latestrankings of the top lobbyists by The Hill newspaper, give bothtrade associations something to brag about.

CUNA President/CEO Bill Cheney as well as NAFCU's Executive VicePresident Dan Berger and Vice President Brad Thaler were all namedto the newspaper's list of the top 73 lobbyists for tradeassociations.

The Hill article said “Cheney's first year as president and CEOof the association was jam-packed with work on Dodd-Frankimplementation and patent reform.''

It wrote that Berger and Thaler, “now free of the swipe-feefight, will be ready for action if the [deficit reduction]supercommittee puts the tax exemption for credit unions on thechopping block.”

The top lobbyists of the two largest bank trade associationsalso made the list.

ABA President/CEO Frank Keating and Executive VicePresident Floyd Stoner were included as was IndependentCommunity Bankers of America President/CEO Camden Fine.

National Retail Federation Senior Vice President David French,an architect of the strategy for persuading the Senate not torepeal the Durbin amendment regulating debit interchange fees, alsois included.

The newspaper bases its annual list on interviews withlawmakers, congressional staff members and lobbyists.