CUNA Backs Newcomers In House Races

WASHINGTON -- CUNA increased its focus last month on supporting congressional newcomers as the campaign season heated up, making contributions to seven candidates for open House seats. They include: Republican California Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy ($5,000); Republican New York State Sen. Ray Meier ($5,000); Republican Nebraska State Rep. Adrian Smith ($5,000); Republican Illinois State Sen. Peter Roskam ($5,000); Democratic New York State Sen. Carl Andrews ($1,000); Democratic Iowa attorney Bruce Braley ($5,000); and Republican Jeff Crank, a staffer with Rep. Joel Hefley, who is running for his boss's seat upon Hefley's retirement ($5,000). CUNA has made contributions to more than 25 congressional newcomers so far in the 2005-2006 elections. CUNA also made contributions last month to three leadership PACs. They were: Democrats for the Future, run by Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif. ($2,500); Committee for the Preservation of Capitalism, run by Rep. Jim McCrery, R-La. ($5,000); and Back America's Conservatives, run by Rep. Richard Baker, R-La. ($5,000). CUNA has contributed more than $250,000 to leadership PACs in the current election cycle.