CUNA's efforts to secure legislation ending abuse of the nation's bankruptcy code has put the association -- and credit unions -- in closer contact with influential lawmakers and policymakers in the nation's capital.

Today's Roll Call newspaper (a publication covering the Congress and Capitol Hill), for example, points out that CUNA's John McKechnie,
senior vice president of governmental affairs, is a member of a four-member group that meets regularly with a top member of the House leadership to discuss bankruptcy legislation strategy. ("Blunt uses Rogers as deputy whip model," Roll Call, May 14; page 3)

According to Roll Call, McKechnie and the other group members meet with Deputy House Republican Whip Mike Rogers (Mich.), who holds a special portfolio in the House leadership framework overseeing coalitions working for passage of major Republican-sponsored legislation. The coalitions focus on the bankruptcy bill, tax legislation, the energy measure and the medical liability bill. The newspaper calls Rogers "a rising star in GOP circles," and quotes Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as saying, "Mike's done a terrific job."

According to Roll Call, members of the bankruptcy coalition meeting with Rogers are McKechnie, Nick Calio of Citigroup (Calio is also a former White House legislative director under President George W. Bush), Gary Andres of the Dutko Group and Katherine Lugar of the National Retail Federation (a strong and influential supporter of bankruptcy reform).

"Credit union support for the bankruptcy abuse reform legislation has won much respect on Capitol Hill, particularly because credit unions have been consistent and firm in their backing of the bill," McKechnie said. "CUNA has been proud to represent credit unions'
determination on this issue, and honored to work with Rep. Rogers' to see this legislation become law."