CULAC Receipts and Contributions Surpass $1 Million

WASHINGTON-While still in the first year of the 2003-2004 election cycle, CUNA’s Credit Union Legislative Action Council has rounded the $1 million mark in contributions received and handed out. According to the political action committee’s latest Federal Election Commission report, CULAC received $146,946.70 last month, pushing the year-to-date receipts to more than $1.01 million. CULAC made $138,233.15 in campaign contributions last month, for a total of just over $1 million so far this year. For comparison, on October 2001 (the most recent first year of an election cycle (2001-2002)) CULAC had receipts of $879,025.10 and contributions of $869,938.28. CUNA Vice President of Political Affairs Richard Gose pointed out that CULAC broke $3 million in contributions last year “and we’d like to see that continue.” If more funds come in along the way, that would be appreciated, he said. He emphasized that the proliferation of leadership PACs has certainly put and onus on CULAC to raise more funds because candidates are looking for more money. In September, the South Carolina League PAC gave $50,000 to CULAC, while the MI PAC of the Michigan Credit Union League contributed $10,000. Top congressional recipients from CULAC for the month of September included Congressmen Tom Cole (R-Okla.; $5,000), Rob Bishop (R-Utah; $4,628.47), Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.; $4,000), and Allen Boyd (D-Fla.; $3,000). Representatives Bill Thomas (R-Calif.), Robin Hayes (R-N.C.), Lucille Royal-Allard (D-Calif.), Max Burns (R-Ga.), and John Doolittle (R-Calif.) each received $2,500 from CULAC.