Campaign $ Cultivates CongressionalLeaders

WASHINGTON - (11/18/05) -- Contributions to political actioncommittees like 'Defend America PAC,' 'Prairie PAC,' and 'The GoodFund,' helped CUNA continue to develop its ties with congressionalleaders last month. Donations to the so-called leadership PACs,helped CUNA further develop relations with Senate Banking CommitteeChairman Richard Shelby, Sen. Richard Durbin, and Rep. BobGoodlatte, and were among the $21,000 CUNA gave to leadership PACslast month. The almost $100,000 CUNA has contributed to leadershipPACs so far in the 2005-2006 election cycle has enabled the creditunion PAC to 'double-dip,' allowing it to contribute the $10,000allowable maximum twice to key lawmakers--once to the individual'scampaign and once to their leadership PAC. CUNA also madecontributions last month to: the PRYCE Project, for Rep. DeborahPryce, R-Ohio, chair of the House Republican Conference, ($3,000);Hawkeye PAC, for Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley,R-Iowa ($1,000); Great Plains Leadership Fund, for Sen. ByronDorgan, D-S.D. ($2,700); and the House Conservatives Fund, forRepublican House candidates ($5,000). CUNA also made contributionsin October to: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.($5,000); House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.($1,000); Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. ($1,000); Sen. Ted Kennedy,D-Mass. ($1,000); Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. ($5,000); and Sen. TomCarper, D-Del. ($10,000).