CUNA Cultivates Relationships with Congressional Leadership

WASHINGTON – CUNA last month continued to build ties with congressional leaders and key constituency groups, doling out $20,000 to five so-called leadership PACs, according to a report filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission. Contributions went to National Leadership PAC, a Democratic group headed by House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel of New York ($1,000); Continuing a Majority Party Action Committee (CAMPAC), a Republican leadership PAC headed by Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan ($5,000); Bart’s Bridge PAC, headed by Democrat Bart Stupak of Michigan ($5,000); Freedom Fund, a leadership PAC for for Iowa Sen. Mike Crapo ($4,000); and Alliance for the West, a leadership PAC for Republican Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho ($5,000). CUNA also contributed to several congressional newcomers, including Adrian Smith, a Republican state lawmaker in Nebraska ($4,000); Joan Fitz-Gerald, a Colorado Democrat ($5,000), and Laura Richardson, a California Democrat who won last June’s special election to fill the seat of the late Juanita Millender-McDonald ($2,500). Other large contributions went to: Reps. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee ($5,000); Solomon Ortiz, D-Texas ($5,000) and Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas ($5,000).