WASHINGTON – CUNA increased its campaign contributions to strategically important congressional figures last month as a potential vote on the member business loan bill approached.
CUNA said it made almost $175,000 in contributions, including an unprecedented $28,000 independent mailing to help embattled House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus survive a tough challenge in Alabama in the two days before the primary.
Contributions also went to key leadership PACs that could help influence an MBL vote in the House or Senate, including the Committee for Hispanic Causes ($5,000); the House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy’s Majority Committee PAC ($5,000); Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker’s Rock City PAC ($2,500); Michigan Democratic Senator Sander Levin’s GOAL PAC ($5,000); the Congressional Black Caucus ($5,000); Democratic Party Chairman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Democrats Win Seats PAC ($5,000); and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel’s New York Jobs PAC ($2,500).
CUNA also made contributions to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, Sen. Diane Feinstein of California, Sen. Ted Strickland of Ohio, and embattled Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar, among others, contributing to a total of 74 different campaign funds last month.
The contributions, combined with $207,000 in new funds raised, left CUNA with $720,000 in its campaign warchest as the congressional campaign.
