Senate To Debate BankruptcyReform

WASHINGTON - (02/24/05) -- The Senate is expected to begindebate on the credit union-backed bankruptcy reform bill as soon asMonday, just as 4,000 credit union executives are gathering inWashington for CUNA's annual government affairs conference. Thedebate is expected to last as long as a week, with Democratsprepared to offer as many as 200 amendments to the bill, Senateleadership sources told The Credit Union Journal Wednesday. Creditunion lobbyists are confident of Senate passage but worry that theaddition of one or more amendments could erode support from some ofthe avowed backers of the bill. CUNA lobbyist Gray Kohn, who hasmet with Senate leaders and their representatives in recent days,said the Republican leadership will do its best to minimize thenumber of amendments the Democrats can propose. But some of theamendments which may have Republican backing could doom the bill bydiscouraging some supporters from voting for the final measure."There are still some potential dangers ahead for this billsucceeding in the Senate," said Kohn.