WASHINGTON-CUNA and NAFCU enjoyed an active political season this election year. Lobbyists from CUNA and NAFCU swarmed the Republican National Convention held in New York City. One of CUNA's main focuses was the distribution of the inkless child fingerprinting kits it has worked on with the National Child Identification Program at the convention. NAFCU cosponsored a cruise for House Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) as well as a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. The lobbyists attended luncheons with the likes of Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (H.R. 3579) sponsor Ed Royce (R-Calif.). The credit union groups were equally active at the Democratic National Convention held in Boston. CUNA and NAFCU both participated in a kick off event for the Blue Dogs, a group of conservative Democrats. CUNA co-sponsored a Goo Goo Dolls concert, primarily for the Democratic senate staffers. NAFCU also co-sponsored a late concert with classic rockers Little Feat for Senator Tom Carper (Del.). But before the sun went down, CUNA and NAFCU spent some time at an event at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Aside from all the fun, credit union lobbyists rubbed elbows with House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) at breakfast and shared lunch with secondary capital proponent House Financial Services Committee Member Brad Sherman (Calif.). Other credit union groups, such as the Association of Corporate Credit Unions and various state leagues, also attended the conventions. A big theme of the national conventions was seeing and being seen, according to lobbyists. The credit union trade group representatives said that the informal atmosphere lends to better mingling with key lawmakers and their staff. The Credit Union Legislative Action Council of CUNA and NAFCU/PAC also contributed large sums to various congressional candidates and political action committees. CULAC disbursed nearly $2 million in funds, while NAFCU/PAC had a record year after contributing nearly $200,000, as of Nov. 22 according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. The two main national credit union trades rarely came up losers in the elections. All in all, CUNA was successful in 322 of the 332 races it had a dog in, including 34 winners of 36 open seats backed by CULAC, and NAFCU won in 12 of 13 Senate seats and 104 of 108 House seats. [email protected]