Major union groups are spending $1 million this week to thank endangered Democratic Members whose yea health care votes over the weekend may complicate their 2010 re-election chances.

[IMGCAP(1)]The labor-backed Health Care for America Now and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees on Monday announced a $650,000 television ad buy to thank 20 Members who voted for the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

“It takes courage to stand up to the lies and scare tactics,— HCAN’s Richard Kirsch said in a statement. “It’s imperative voters understand the important role these Members of Congress have played in taking an historic step.—

The ads will air in the districts of Democratic Reps. Jim Himes (Conn.), Michael Arcuri (N.Y.) Dina Titus (Nev.), Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.), Mark Schauer (Mich.), Mary Jo Kilroy (Ohio), Debbie Halvorson (Ill.), Bill Owens (N.Y.), Gary Peters (Mich.), Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.), Bill Foster (Ill.), Kurt Schrader (Ore.), Harry Mitchell (Ariz.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.), Steve Kagen (Wis.), John Hall (N.Y.), Dan Maffei (N.Y.), Tim Bishop (N.Y.) and Leonard Boswell (Iowa).

Another left-leaning group, Americans United for Change, is expected to spend $350,000 this week to thank potentially vulnerable Democratic Members for their Saturday votes.

Closing Time. Automaker Chrysler officially shuttered its political action committee last week, according to papers filed with the Federal Election Commission. The former Big Three powerhouse, now known as Chrysler Group, emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year and is now owned by the United States and Canadian governments, union retirees and Italian manufacturer Fiat S.p.A.

K Street Moves. Former Rep. Larry LaRocco (D-Idaho), who last year made a failed run for Senate, is joining Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. He will be a policy director at the firm and will focus on financial services and natural resources issues.

• The Financial Services Roundtable has added Democrat Brian Tate, formerly with the Credit Union National Association, as vice president of banking and securities. Tate replaces Irving Daniels, who left recently for the Marwood Group.

• TechAmerica, which has been downsizing this year, brought on Kim Allman, a one-time aide to Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), as senior vice president for state government affairs.

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