Campaign Contributions Cultivate Congressional Leaders

WASHINGTON – CUNA reported yesterday it contributed $200,000 to members of Congress last month, almost half of it to key players who will influence debate over the newly introduced CU Regulatory Improvements Act, better known as CURIA. CUNA made the maximum allowable $10,000 contribution to Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee; to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, as well as $5,000 to Pelosi’s leadership PAC, known as PAC to the Future; and to House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina. Also, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland received $2,500 and House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio received $5,000. CUNA also contributed $51,000 to a variety of leadership PACs, including $5,000 to Pelosi’s PAC and to Citizens for Action PAC (Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa.); Battle Born PAC (Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.); RAD PAC (George Radanovich, R-Calif.); Eureka PAC (Ken Calvert, R-Calif.); Mary’s PAC (Mary Bono, R-Calif.); KING PAC (Peter King, R-N.Y.); Searchlight Leadership Fund (Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.; Congressional Black Caucus PAC; Bluegrass Committee; and $1,000 to TOM PAC (Tom Davis, R-Va.).