Congressional Leaders Get CUNALargesse

WASHINGTON - (03/21/05) -- CUNA said it made $100,000 inpolitical contributions last month, much of it targeted towardscongressional leaders, just as lawmakers consider a flurry of newcredit union-related bills. Among the recipients were: HouseSpeaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill ($5,000); House Judiciary ChairmanJames Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. ($1,000); and leadership PACs for Reps.Tom Davis, R-Va., head of the Republican Congressional CampaignCommittee ($5,000), and House Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo. ($5,000),Republican Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio ($2,000) andSteny Hoyer, D-Md., Minority Whip ($1,000). Also Reps. BradSherman, D-Calif. and Ed Royce, R-Calif, chief sponsors of majorcredit union bills, received $5,000 and $2,000, respectively. CUNAalso contributed $5,000 to Dorris Matsui, who is running to succeedher husband Robert Matsui, D-Calif., who died last month. CUNA'sPAC raised $81,000 last month and ended with $412,000 of cash onhand.