So, the Senate invoked the so-called “Nuclear Option” to easethe way for confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the United StatesSupreme Court.

It is a huge change for the Senate – hence the name “NuclearOption.”

It will allow a simple majority of senators to move to confirm amember of the United States Supreme Court.

But will it impact the issues credit union folks probably careabout most, such as regulatory overhaul or tax reform?

Nope. Most of the time watching the Senate in action (if you cancall it that) still will be as exciting as watching paint dry.

The move will not speed up the legislative process at all. Anddepending on how the Democrats react, it could slow it evenmore.

Democrats and Republicans could decide that now that thenomination is finished, the Senate must start functioning. Or itcould slow things even more, as angry Democrats react angrily.

One move is highly unlikely: An end to the filibuster whenconsidering legislation.

The Senate is designed to move slowly.

Legend has it that Thomas Jefferson and George Washington satdown to discuss whether a House of Representatives was sufficientto govern or whether a Senate was needed.

During the conversation, Jefferson poured a bit of his coffeeinto a saucer.

Washington asked why Jefferson did such a thing. He replied thatit was to cool the coffee, adding that his throat was not made ofbrass.

Legend has it that Washington replied that the Senate wasdesigned to cool legislation.

And it has worked.

Take 1995. Republicans had taken control of Capitol Hill. Andduring the first 100 days, the House worked feverishly to enactlegislation that was called for in its “Contract with America.”

The Senate, on the other hand, slowly considered bills and manyof the changes called for in the contract died in the Senate.

Senators guard their pregotives carefully. And those privilegesinclude the right to talk incessantly and to spend as much time asthey want debating legislation.

In fact, senators don't have to occupy the Senate floor toconduct a filibuster. The mere suggestion that they might blockslegislation unless bill supporters can gain 60 votes to agree.

Senators are loath to change the legislative filibuster forseveral reasons.

For instance, senators know that one day, their party might finditself in the minority. And then they will want to use thefilibuster to block legislation.

And there's the knock that if the filibuster is eliminated, theSenate will be “just like the House,” where a filibuster isprohibited.

And if there's one thing the Senate does not want to becompared with, it's the so-called “lower chamber.”

While we're on the subject of the Senate, the two members of theNCUA board, Acting Chairman J. Mark McWatters and Board Member RickMetsger, have been getting along so well publicly that it might beeasy to forget there's supposed to be a third member sitting atthat table.

While it's impossible to predict when that seat might be filled,if the pace of other administration appointments is any indication,it might be empty for a while.

The Partnership for Public Service, a group that is designed tohelp with presidential transitions, and the WashingtonPost have combined on a “Political Appointee Tracker.” The twogroups are following 553 presidential appointees requiring Senateconfirmation.

So far, the administration has not selected a nominee for 486positions. Some 24 have been selected, but not formally nominated;21 have been nominated and 22 have been confirmed.

In many cases, cabinet secretaries have been nominated, buttheir deputies have not yet been selected.

One job that has been filled (probably because it doesn'trequire Senate confirmation) is that of White House presssecretary.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer has been called a lot of nasty namessince starting his job.

Here's one you haven't heard: Credit union member.

Earlier this month, the Trump Administration released financialdisclosure documents for a group of its White House staff.

A review of the most prominent employees shows what you wouldexpect.

Many of them are very rich.

For instance, the financial disclosure form filed by Trumpson-in-law Jared Kushner totals some 54 pages.

Spicer's totals a measly 15 pages.

Many of the disclosure reports simply list “bank account” as anasset, so it's difficult to tell if they might have an account witha credit union.

But a perusal of the most visible White House staff documentsshows that Spicer has three accounts at an unnamed creditunion.

He also has a mortgage with Lake Michigan Federal Credit Unionin Grand Rapids, Mich., and a personal loan with United StatesSenate Federal Credit Union.

So, the next time you see Spicer fumbling and bumbling during aWhite House briefing, should you have a bit of sympathy for himbecause he supports the credit union movement?

Nah.

David Baumann is a Correspondent-at-Large forCU Times. He can be reached at [email protected].