CUNA unloading on upcoming 2002 congressional campaigns

WASHINGTON-With next year’s congressional elections creeping up on lawmakers and lobbyists alike, CUNA’s PAC – Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC) – is dumping its war chest upon candidates. Many of the congressmen given contributions are members of the Financial Services Committee. Congressman Rubn Hinojosa (D-Texas) received $500 from CULAC last month. Congressmen Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio) and Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) each received $1,000. CULAC donated $1,500 to Mark Green, Republican congressman from Wisconsin, and contributed $2,500 each to Congressmen Bob Barr (R-Ga.) and freshman Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.). Several other Financial Services Committee members received contributions from CULAC in various amounts. The congressman CUNA contributed the most funding to was Maryland Democrat Steny Hoyer at $4,000. Also up for re-election this coming year is Senate Banking Committee Members Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), who received $4,000 from CULAC in June. CUNA gave bankruptcy opponent Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) $3,000 towards his re-election. The top money getter for July was Senator Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) for $5,000. Additionally, Sue Collins (R-Maine) received $3,000 towards re-election. While money does seem to be pouring out of the CULAC coffers, the leagues and others are busy replenishing the fund. CUNA, through CULAC, made $144,300 in disbursements last month while taking in almost $102,000. CULAC had more than $311,000 on hand to work with in July. One of the leagues working to raise serious money for the CUNA PAC is the Louisiana Credit Union League, which recently raised over $11,000 through its “CULAC Challenge.” The challenge put Louisiana’s nine credit union chapters into competition with each other to raise funds towards their chapter’s goal. The winners from the Alexandria Chapter raised 367% of their goal, which equals four cents per member per credit union. Sidney Parfait, president and CEO of Post Office Employees Credit Union of New Orleans, was the top personal contributor. He was awarded tickets to a New Orleans Saints game. At press time, figures on NAFCU’s PAC were unavailable. – [email protected]