Top political strategists for CUNA and NAFCU said it is tooearly to determine what the national political trends will be nextyear but they are determined to ensure that credit unions have more allies onCapitol Hill who can help further the industry's agenda.

Toward that effort, CUNA's Credit Union Legislative ActionCouncil had $305,366 on hand at the end of March, according toreports filed with the Federal Election Commission. By the end ofthe first quarter, it gave $397,000 to federal candidates andcommittees and raised $328,921.

FEC reports also indicated that NAFCU-PAC had $212,938 on handat the end of last month. During the first three months of the yearit gave $57,000 to federal candidates and committees and raised$34,772.

“We want to help our friends, hopefully find new ones and if wehave the resources, defeat people who aren't friendly to us,” saidCUNA Senior Vice President Richard Gose.

NAFCU Executive Vice President Dan Berger said his group's PACtakes several factors into consideration when determining whichcandidates get their contributions.

“We look at their votes, we look at the committees they are on,and if they are on the leadership. In addition, [if they are]receptive to meeting with credit union representatives,” Bergersaid.

As the battle over delaying the implementation of the FederalReserve's interchange rule has heated up, both PACs sent money tothe lawmakers that are leading the fight on the issue.

Both gave money to Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who is sponsoring legislation thatwould delay the implementation of the Fed's rule by two years.

CULAC contributed to Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who is sponsoringcompanion legislation in the House. She is the chairman of theHouse Financial Services Committee's subcommittee that overseesbanks and credit unions. That panel has held several hearings thisyear on the regulatory burden facing financial institutions, andcredit union representatives have testified at three of them.

Both PACs gave money to House Financial Services CommitteeChairman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.). His panel holds in its hands thefate of many items on the credit union wish list–including allowingcredit unions to accept supplemental capital and raising the cap onmember business loans.

Both also gave money to Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), a seniormember of Bachus' committee, a strong supporter of credit unionsand a member of the GOP leadership. NAFCU's PAC also gave money tohis leadership PAC.

CULAC gave $1,000 to Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.), who defeatedRep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), one of the strongest supporters ofcredit unions on Capitol Hill. He is likely to have a difficultre-election race next year.

Not to be outdone, the American Bankers Association PAC gave$362,000 to federal candidates and committees during the firstquarter, while the PAC of the Independent Community Bankers ofAmerica gave $301,250.