Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., was very clear about his thoughts on the credit union tax status during his remarks Wednesday morning at the Governmental Affairs Conference.

“I want to make it clear that when the dust settles this year on the tax issue and reconciliation, a top priority of mine is protecting the tax exemption for credit unions because of the difference it makes in our communities,” he said.

He shared thoughts similar to America’s Credit Unions President/CEO Jim Nussle earlier in the week, that final negotiations may come down to a few people in a room trying to find a way to pay for their priorities.

“There will be debates in the Senate, and the House, and there will be votes, but at the end of the day leadership on both sides is going to be in a little room with literally only a couple of people in there,” he said, adding that the visits with legislators this week “are some of the most important visits you can possibly make.

“This is not a time to say we’ve got it in the bag,” he added. “This is a time of substantial uncertainty in politics and the economy. Let’s make sure you come out on the right side of this debate. Protecting the exemption means we protect the opportunities for you to do great work."