WASHINGTON-CUNA targeted key congressional leaders with campaign contributions over the first part of the summer, while rebuilding its campaign warchest.
Contributions went to: Reps. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus ($2,500); Charles Rangel (D-NY), chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee ($2,500) and John Boehner (R-OH), House Minority Leader ($5,000), according to a report filed by CUNA last week with the Federal Election Commission.
Campaign funds also went to so-called leadership PACs operated by key lawmakers, including AmeriPAC, for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland ($1,500); PAC to the Future for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco ($5,000); Searchlight Leadership FUN for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada ($5,000); Alamo PAC for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas ($2,500) and Senate Conservatives Fund for Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina ($5,000).
Other significant contributions last month included $1,000 to Sen. Arlen Spector, the Pennsylvania Republican-turned Democrat and $2,500 to each of the following lawmakers: Sens. Dan Inouye (D-HI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Reps. Ted Poe (R-TX), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Gene Greene, (D-TX), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Steve Buyer (R-IN).
CUNA's PAC took in $144,500 last month and spent $91,000 last month, building its cash reserves up to $614,000.
Through the first seven months of the year CUNA's PAC, known as CU Legislative Action Council, or CULAC, took in $1.02 million and spent $805,000, making it one of the most active PACs on Capitol Hill.
