WASHINGTON – Credit unions poured almost $7 million into this year’s elections, topping the previous high by almost $1 million.
By far the most money was contributed by CUNA and its political action committee, which raised almost $4 million and spent about as much for the two-year election cycle, according to records submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
But several other entities set new highs, including NAFCU, which contributed more than $400,000; the Michigan CU League, which contributed a similar amount; and the Pennsylvania CU Association, which spent $200,000, including $57,000 on independent mailings in the final weeks to help push credit union champion Paul Kanjorski over the top.
More than 20 credit unions also contributed campaigns through their own PACs, including Coastal FCU, Wescom CU, SchoolsFirst FCU, California Coast CU, Philadelphia FCU, Affinity FCU and Arrowhead CU, as well as the corporates U.S. Central FCU and WesCorp FCU.
In addition dozens of credit union executives made contributions to individual campaigns separate of campaign PACs, the FEC records show.
