Open House Seats Eyed ByCUNA

WASHINGTON - (05/22/06) – CUNA began last month targetingseveral open House races–those with no incumbentrunning–with campaign funding. Among those candidatesreceiving CUNA campaign donations were: Albio Sires, a Democraticstate Assemblyman running in New Jersey’s 13th District($2,500); Adrian Smith, a Republican state Senator running inNebraska’s 3rd District ($5,000); Kevin McCarthy, aRepublican state Assemblyman running in California’s 22ndDistrict ($5,000); and Jean Schmidt, a Ohio Republican elected in arecent special election ($2,500). CUNA also contributed $5,000 lastmonth to the campaign of freshman Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.,who is in a close race for reelection. CUNA also continued toshuffle funding to congressional leaders, with $2,500 going tonewly elected House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio andanother $5,000 to Boehner’s leadership PAC known as TheFreedom Project; $4,500 going to Republican Congressional CampaignCommittee Chairman Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y.; and $5,000contributions to Volunteer PAC, the leadership PAC for SenateMajority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.; Future Leaders PAC, theleadership PAC for House Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis,R-Calif.