Politics

Most House Republican members contributing to campaign committee

By Paul Blumenthal

With expectations running high that they will take the majority in the House of Representatives, Republican House members are putting up their own campaign and political action committee money to fund the party’s national House electoral arm.

According to data obtained from TransparencyData.com, 157 current Republican House members–out of a total of 179–have ponied up more than $24 million to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) so far this cycle. This accounts for more than a quarter of the total raised by the party committee.

The NRCC is charged with helping to elect new Republican members to the House and protect current members from defeat. The money raised will largely go towards advertising and campaign activities that will be necessary for the party to win back the majority.

Leading the charge in giving money to the NRCC are the current party leaders and those in line to chair committees in the event of a Republican takeover of Congress.

Minority Leader and Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner–through his campaign committee, political action committee and a committee set up by his staffers–has given nearly $2 million to the campaign committee. Minority Whip Eric Cantor, in line to become Majority Leader in the event of a GOP victory, has given over $1 million.

Following the two major party leaders in giving are some important potential chairmen of powerful committees. Rep. Spencer Bachus, in line to head the House Financial Services Committee, has given $905,180 and Rep. Dave Camp, in line to lead the House Ways & Means Committee, has given $873,200. Rep. Frank Lucas, in line to head the House Agriculture Committee, sent $646,000 to the NRCC this cycle.

Many of the other top NRCC givers are members likely to be seeking leadership posts in the 112th Congress. Reps. Jeb Hensarling, Kevin McCarthy and Mike Pence are all likely to seek important leadership posts if the Republicans retake the majority. To help them do so, they’ve contributed hefty amounts to the NRCC. Hensarling has given $690,150, McCarthy gave $589,394 and Pence has given $564,000.

Pence is currently the Republican Conference Chairman and McCarthy is the Chief Deputy Whip. Both are featured co-authors with Cantor in a book touting new leaders among House Republicans titled “Young Guns.”

Hensarling previously sought the position of Conference Chairman after the Republicans lost their majority in the 2006 midterms, but stepped aside to allow Pence to take the spot.

Twenty-two House Republican members have not given money to the NRCC this cycle. This list largely consists of party back-benchers and retiring members, but also includes the media star Rep. Michele Bachmann. The members who have not ponied up to the campaign committee are Reps. Bachmann, Brian Bilbray, Henry Brown, Steve Buyer, Charles Djou, Jo Ann Emerson, Elton Gallgley, Tom Graves, Parker Griffith, Dean Heller, Wally Herger, Pete Hoekstra, Timothy Johnson, Walter Jones, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Dan Lungren, Adam Putnam, Phil Roe, Adrian Smith, John Sullivan, Lee Terry and Don Young.

Full post as published by Sunlight Foundation on September 13, 2010 (boomark / email).