CULAC Contributions Lean to the Right As RNC Approaches

WASHINGTON – As lawmakers on the right side of the aisle gear up for the Republican National Convention, the political arm of CUNA is helping to make sure their pockets are lined with spending money. According to the Credit Union Legislative Action Council’s Federal Election Commission report, CULAC gave $15,000 last month to the 2004 Joint State Victory Fund, a group covering several states supporting Republican candidates, and another $2,500 to Republican leadership political action committee, AmeriPAC. CULAC also contributed $4,700 to PETE PAC supporting Senator Pete Domenici (R-N.M.). But these are not the only Republican tendencies CULAC has demonstrated lately. Throughout the 2003-2004 election cycle, CULAC’s contributions to congressional candidates are split 58% for Republicans to 42% for Democrats as of Aug. 18 (prior to CULAC’s July report filed Aug. 20), according to opensecrets.org. As of Aug. 2, CULAC had contributed $603,632 to Democratic candidates as opposed to $824,073 to Republicans. Of course, there are more Republicans in Congress than Democrats and CUNA tends to favor incumbents when possible. State Representative Lynn Westmoreland (R), who is running for Congressman Mac Collins’ (R-Ga.) seat, got $5,000. Collins seat was left open after he ran for retiring Senator Zell Miller’s (D-Ga.) seat, but lost his primary bid to fellow Republican Congressman Johnny Isakson. State Senator Thomas Price (R), who is running for Isakson’s seat, received $5,000 from CULAC as well. Newcomer David Huffman (R), who has credit union experience under his belt and is waiting for official results for his primary run-off where he trailed by just 86 votes as of Aug. 23, also received $5,000 from CULAC in July. The PAC also previously bought radio ads through CULAC’s first independent expenditures of the election cycle for the candidate at $50,000. Republican Congressman Jim DeMint (S.C) also received $5,000. The only Democrat garnering $5,000 from CULAC in July was Illinois Senate candidate Barack Obama. Other Democrats receiving sizeable sums from CULAC included Congressman Mike Michaud (D-Maine) ($3,000), Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) ($2,500), and Congressman John Dingell (D-Mich.) ($2,500). In total, CULAC gave out nearly $125,000 in July and over $1 million for the year, the FEC reports stated. Also in July, CULAC took in almost $180,000 for a year to date total of $954,185.90. The PAC closed the month with more than $630,000 in its account. [email protected]