WASHINGTON – The White House has apparently struck a deal that, at least for last week's Senate recess, no recess appointments will be made. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) worked out a deal with the administration that no recess appointments would be made while the Senate is on recess, according to NAFCU Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Brad Thaler, who added that the agreement will likely cover the remainder of the congressional session, "Where that comes to impact credit unions, that means there will be no recess appointment to the NCUA Board," he said. "I think the deal was for the remainder of the session, so expect that unless they can get an agreement in the future to make a recess appointment to the NCUA Board, you're probably unlikely to see that." A new NCUA Board member could still be appointed via the usual presidential nomination and Senate approval process. Of course the list of potential nominees has yet to be narrowed down to one main candidate. Four names surfaced last month for the open seat on the NCUA Board, including SSA Baltimore Federal Credit Union CEO Jack Houseknecht, Former Robins Federal Credit Union CEO Buck Levins, Wescom Credit Union Vice President for Real Estate Tom Orman, and Walter Furnace, American Airlines Federal Credit Union's Dallas-Fort Worth Terminal B branch manager. Former Federal Housing Finance Board Member J. Timothy O'Neill, Missouri Credit Union Association CEO Rosie Holub, and Texas Credit Union League Vice President of Staff and Public Relations Troy Stang are also still possible nominees. NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar's term expired last April and he has told the administration he will serve at least through the first quarter of 2004. -

[email protected]