GOP snubs Boehner’s plea for cash

Senior Republicans have ignored the impassioned plea of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) that they help the party raise more money for the November election.

While the ranking Republicans of several committees have given tens of thousands of dollars to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), others have given nothing or very little.  

{mosads}Boehner issued a blunt challenge to his colleagues last month, telling them to get off their “dead asses” to help the campaign committee. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) had almost $33 million more in cash on hand than the House Republican fundraising committee.

The appeal eventually moved Rep. Jim McCrery (La.), the senior Republican on the Ways and Means Committee. He gave $100,000 to the NRCC from his personal campaign account on the last day of March. He gave $500,000 in 2007.

But other ranking Republicans have not given anything since Boehner’s pep talk.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.), ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee has not contributed to the NRCC from his personal campaign account or his leadership political action committee (PAC).

Rep. Steve Chabot (Ohio), senior Republican on Small Business, has shared none of his funds, either.

He did, however, hold a fundraiser for the committee last year.  Chabot is facing a tough reelection race.

Rep. Ralph Hall (Texas), ranking member on Science and Technology, gave $10,500 from his reelection fund.

Rep. Don Young (Alaska), the leading Republican on the Natural Resources panel, has given significantly less than other senior Republicans have. He gave $50,000 from his campaign account in January 2007 and $15,000 from a leadership PAC. Democrats are targeting Young this election cycle.

Rep. Steve Buyer (Ind.), Republican leader on the Veterans’ Affairs panel, gave $28,500 from his leadership committee, Storm Chasers. While that sum might be acceptable from a rank-and-file member, Republican leaders consider it disappointing coming from a senior colleague.

Rep. Pete King (N.Y.), senior Republican on Homeland Security, gave $50,000, a modest amount compared to some other ranking Republicans.

Republicans holding committee leadership positions are able to raise more money than junior lawmakers, and with less effort, from the array of political action committees and constituents seeking their favor.

Republican leaders expect much from those to whom much is given. They want senior Republicans to use their fundraising power to help the entire conference.

“Senior members on committees are expected to set a good fundraising example for the rest of the conference,” said a GOP leadership aide.

Hall said there are not many people he can ask for large donations in his northeastern Texas district.

He noted that he had less than $100,000 in his campaign account at the start of 2007. (His report showed he had $37,000.)

“I have a little bit of a hard time up in northeast Texas,’” said Hall. “At one time I was asked to raise $90,000 and another time $100,000. I don’t have a lot of guys that will give that money.”

 Hall added that he has raised about $80,000 for the NRCC and that he would send out more fundraising letters soon.

Since Boehner’s plea, Hunter, Young, King, Hall, Chabot, and Buyer have not given anything to the campaign committee, FEC records show.

Donations that lawmakers solicit for the party fundraising committees do not show up in public records.

Election law allows lawmakers to give only $15,000 a year from their PACs. They have much more freedom to disburse funds from personal war chests.

Some lawmakers, such as Rep. David Dreier (Calif.), ranking Republican on the Rules Committee, and House Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (Fla.) have transferred tens of thousands from their own accounts. Dreier gave $165,000 to the NRCC at the end of February; Putnam has given $180,000 since the beginning of the year, according to public reports.

Boehner has transferred nearly a million dollars from his own account. He also gave $15,000 from his leadership committee.

Boehner’s impatience with his colleagues may be explained in part by the enthusiastic response Democratic leaders have received from members of their caucus. This year alone, many rank-and-file Democrats have given significantly more money than some ranking Republicans.

Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.), who is a member of the Appropriations Committee but does not chair any subcommittees, gave $100,000 to the DCCC in February, according to a fundraising report. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), a third-term lawmaker and junior member of Appropriations, gave $50,000 last month.

Michael Lemaire contributed to this report.