Bankers Far Outspend CUs on Congressional Trips

WASHINGTON – Looking at the credit union PACs shows some difference in spending between the two groups on their friends in Congress, but their sponsoring of trips provides a stark contrast. According to America Public Media (at http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org), over the past six years CUNA has spent a total of $2,836 last year to send congressional staffers from Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) and Grace Napolitano’s (D-Calif.) offices to Mexico for fact finding tours. The World Council of Credit Unions spent an additional $3,531 for two more staffers to attend. NAFCU spent $2,470 on four trips for Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and a staffer and staffers from Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Paul Kanjorski’s (D-Pa.) offices to speak at different NAFCU events. By comparison, the American Bankers Association has sponsored 79 trips with an aggregate bill of $126,988.35, including a two-day, trip to Colorado Springs for former Congressman Martin Frost (D-Texas) to speak at their summer convention for $7,245. America’s Community Bankers has spent $14,511.64 on 11 trips for members of Congress and their staff. The Independent Community Bankers of America has funded just one trip for under $1,000.