WILKES BARRE, Penn. – Credit unions have joined the banks and other powerful financial industry groups to help save 12-term Rep. Paul Kanjorski, the congressional credit union champion.
Credit unions around the country have helped raise more than $100,000 for the Democratic congressman, who is trailing Republican Lou Barletta for the 11th District House seat, according to the latest polls.
Credit unions, banks, insurance companies and other financial interests with business before the House Financial Services subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, which Kanjorksi chairs, have provided more than 90% of the $2.3 million in campaign funds raised by Kanjorski, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Kanjorski, the main sponsor of HR 1151, the CU Membership Access Act, as well as the CU Regulatory Improvements Act, or CURIA, has raised $20,000 from CUNA ($10,000 to his campaign and $10,000 to his leadership PAC); $15,000 from NAFCU; $7,000 from CUNA Mutual; $1,000 from U.S. Central FCU and California Coast CU and $1,537 from Affinity FCU.
A veritable listing of the CEO Roundtable has also contributed to Kanjorski’s campaign: John Bommarito, Western FCU ($2,300); Rudy Hanley, SchoolsFirst FCU ($2,300); Tom Dorety, Suncoast Schools FCU ($1,000); Bob Marquette, Members 1st FCU ($1,000); John Davis, PennAir FCU ($500); Doug Ferraro, Bellco FCU ($250); Jeff Farver, San Antonio FCU ($250); Barry Jolette, San Mateo CU ($300); Ron Kase, Landmark CU ($250); Paul Kundert, University of Wisconsin CU ($500); John Merlo, Premier America FCU ($250); David Mooney, Alliant CU ($250); Jeffrey Napper, LBS Financial CU ($250); Dennis Pierce, CommunityAmerica CU ($250); and Ronald Westad, Arizona FCU ($250).
Kanjorski, who has been fighting to block credit union conversions to banks, even got a $250 contribution from Alan Theriault, president of CU Financial Services, who has engineered almost every conversion to bank so far.
The credit union backing was exceeded by financial support from the Independent Community Bankers Association, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Citigorup, Wachovia, Washington Mutual, HSBC, Charles Schwab, Sallie Mae, and the American Council of Life Insurers, as well as Countrywide Financial, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and AIG.
Kanjorski has also received broad support from a number of labor unions.
Barletta, author of an anti-illegal immigrant ordinance as mayor of Hazleton, Penn., has raised most of his money from individual donors in the district, but also from national interest groups opposed to illegal immigration. He received political action money from groups like: US Immigration Reform, Freedom and Security PAC, Freedom Project and Defend America PAC.
Barletta also received a $5,000 contribution from the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, which has been fighting credit unions in the courts over field of membership.
