CULAC Contributions Tipping Toward Right Side of the Aisle

WASHINGTON-Congressional contributions from the Credit Union Legislative Action Council are leaning more toward Republicans this election cycle. According to PoliticalMoneyLine Web site (tray.com), CULAC has given $641,095 to Republican candidates and $485,417 to Democrats in the 2003-2004 election cycle. It should be noted that CULAC, the political arm of CUNA, tends to support incumbents and right now the Republicans control the House and Senate. CULAC’s report to the Federal Election Commission for the month of April bears this out. The top recipients of CULAC funds in April included Senator Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) who received $2,000, and Congressmen Chris Cannon (R-Utah; $5,000) and Dan Burton (R-Ind.; $3,000). Representatives Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and James Walsh (R-N.Y.) each received $2,500 from CULAC, as did Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.), who is running for the seat vacated by Congressman James Hoeffel III (D-Pa.) who is taking on Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.). Congressman Chris Chocola (R-Ind.) was given $2,100 by CULAC, while Representatives Thomas Tancredo (R-Colo.), Baron Hill (D-Ind.), and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) received contributions of $2,000 in April. “Congressman Barney Frank has been a great friend of credit unions and been very supportive, as has Congressman Brad Sherman.” CUNA Political Director Karen Kincer explained. “A lot of these people have been very supportive in various ways, either here in Washington or back in their districts with the [credit union] CEOs.” Comparing CULAC’s contributions to each of the parties, you can see its political muscle among credit unions when it is taken into consideration that the entire credit union community has contributed $595,927 to Democratic candidates and $775,738 to Republicans, according to tray.com. Among all political action committees, the Web site listed CULAC as 32nd in receipts; as of April 30, it had collected $1.2 million. CULAC ranked even higher at number 26 for funds disbursed, having doled out $1.9 million. [email protected]