The Senate has completed its legislative business for the year –a development that ensures President-Elect Donald Trump can createa Republican majority on the NCUA board.

Current Republican board member J. Mark McWatters had beennominated for a seat on the Export-Import Bank. However, the SenateBanking Committee, whose Chairman, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.),opposes the bank’s existence, never considered confirmingMcWatters. That means McWatters, a Republican, will stay on theboard.

McWatters alluded to that in a column in the December issue ofthe NCUA Report newsletter.

In that column, he outlined priorities for the year andconcluded, “With your help, I look forward to tackling these andother issues of importance in 2017.”

President Obama also nominated John Herrera, SVP for Latino and Hispanic Affairs atthe Durham, N.C.-based, $738 million Self-Help Credit Union, for aseat on the NCUA board. The Banking Committee never considered thatnomination.

That allows Trump to nominate a Republican to create a GOPmajority on the panel. The president can nominate two members ofhis own party for the board.

Trump has another decision to make – designating a chairman ofthe board. Current Chairman Rick Metsger is a Democrat and wasselected by Obama.

Trump likely would designate a Republican as chairman andspeculation has centered on McWatters for that position.