Sullivan Tapped To Raise GOP Funds

Today, Tulsa Congressman John Sullivan announced that House Speaker John Boehner and NRCC Chairman Pete Session (R-TX) tapped him to serve as a co-chairman of the annual National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee fundraising dinner in March 2012. 

Sullivan will join colleagues Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Candice Miller (R-MI) to lead the most significant fundraising effort the 2012 election cycle for House Republicans.

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Cole Faces NRCC Challenge From Sessions

Congressman Tom Cole faces a fight to keep his post as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas has announced he'll seek the seat just as he did two years ago. He was defeated by Cole. This time around, Sessions promises to bolster House GOP fundraising efforts.

While Cole has drawn criticism by some for the loss of GOP congressional seats, supporters note the losses were not as bad as some had believed would happen, and they note that Cole had to deal with problems not of his creation when he took over the chairman's job.

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Cole Will Seek Second Term As NRCC Chief

A day following an easy reelection win in the 4th District, Congressman Tom Cole announced today he will seek a second term as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Cole also again expressed confidence he will get a seat on the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most coveted assignments in Congress. Having a seat on that panel, which helps oversee federal spending, usually is a huge boost for a state.

Cole made his announcement on the NRCC post one day after his party again lost House seats in the elections, but the losses were not as great as some had predicted.

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Republicans Raise $21.5 Million

From Fox News ~ The Republican campaign committees raised a total of $21.5 million at the annual President’s Dinner on Wednesday night, despite the absence of the presumptive presidential nominee and a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in an internal accounting scandal at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

While many Republicans blame President George Bush for the backlash against the party over the last two years, his ability to fundraise is still strong. Early this year, Bush helped raise $8.6 million for House candidates.

The bar for the 2008 dinner was lower than last year’s event. However, the fundraising environment surrounding the 2008 dinner was much more dour for the GOP. Three special-election losses and the disclosure that a former NRCC official allegedly transferred $725,000 — including funds partially raised from last year’s dinner — into his personal and business bank accounts caused GOP morale to sag.

The dinner is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the House and Senate Republican congressional campaign committees.

Dinner chairmen Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) helped raise the $8 million and $13.5 million for their respective campaign committees.

“Our high level of member participation should signal to those following House races that Republicans are helping ourselves by marshaling the resources necessary to hold Democrats accountable for $4 [per gallon] gas prices while they engineer the largest tax increase in American history,” said Hensarling.

The NRCC exceeded its goal by $1 million. The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $1.5 million more than its target amount.

Both GOP campaign committees, however, lag far behind their Democratic counterparts.

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Tom Cole Proud Alleged Embezzlement At NRCC Caught On His Watch

By Jackie Kucinich/The Hill In Washington ~ National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.) acknowledged Thursday that the total financial damage from an alleged embezzlement scheme by a former employee may never be known, but that he was proud his team discovered the irregularities that led to a federal investigation into the committee’s book keeping.

“We’ll never know the full extent,” Cole told reporters Thursday. “I mean there is a dollar damage we have an estimate there could be more.”

“It’s clearly damaging in terms of the amount of time it’s taken, the betrayal of colleagues, successive chairmen...but on the other hand we are the ones that found it, we are the ones who reported it, and we are the ones who fixed it and I’m very proud of my committee for that,” he added.

Cole said that the cost of the investigation was roughly $400,000 less than he had originally anticipated and likely will be topping out at between $500,000 and $600,000.

He also took at subtle shot at his predecessors at NRCC, saying that many of the improvements -- such as beefing up the accounting division of the campaign committee -- were long overdue improvements.

“I told somebody it’s a little bit like buying a 30-year-old house and then having to put in new plumbing, new floor, new roof, that sort of thing then have to sell it,” Cole said. “You know that’s just the reality of it. Those bills fell due on my watch, but they are wise investments and they are investments that I’m pleased we’ve made.”

The accounting recommendation was one of several made by Covington and Burling who ran the internal investigation for the NRCC. It concluded that Republicans should hire a chief financial officer expand, formalize their accounting practices and put in place increased oversight over procedures that relate to the NRCC banking statements and books.

On Jan. 28, the NRCC discovered that no 2006 audit was conducted. By March, the committee learned that their former treasurer Christopher J. Ward allegedly fabricated audits since 2002. Ward was hired at the NRCC in 1995 and became treasurer in 2003. He left the committee in 2007 but remained on as a consultant.

Robert Kelner, a partner at Covington & Burling who is outside legal counsel for the NRCC, said that an additional audit of the 2007 books would have to be done before they could apply for loans for the 2008 election cycle.

Cole said he was confident the audit would be completed before the November election and that the committee would be eligible for future loans.

“Since 2001, it appears that Chris Ward, the former treasurer caused a loss to the NRCC of approximately $725,000,” Kelner said.

Kelner back away from a much larger figure in March which placed the estimated loss at nearly $1 million.

“I tried to caution the media at the time....not to focus too much on the $1 million figure,” he said. “The $725,000 is PricewaterhouseCoopers' best estimate of what the loss was going back as far as we can in the records which is 2001.”

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Washington Watch: Coburn Stirs It Up

Tom Coburn: Senator Tom Coburn continues to stir it up on Capitol Hill. Oklahoma's junior senator now calls to account the U. S. Department of Agriculture's expenditures for conferences and travel.

Coburn says the USDA spent $19 million in 2006 sending staff to conferences in such places as Las Vegas, Orlando and Hawaii. Among the trips were one to attend a “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” seminar in Las Vegas and others to Australia for conferences on fungus and crawdads, said Coburn.

In all, the agency sent 21,000 employees to 6,719 conferences in 2006 at a real cost of $19 million and “an unknown cost to taxpayers in lost productivity,” a report by Coburn states. “At a time when millions of Americans are being forced to tighten their belts, it is obscene that politicians in Washington are refusing to rein in wasteful spending."

Coburn, the top Republican on the Senate’s federal financial management subcommittee, has been proposing cuts to agency travel for conferences since coming to the Senate in 2005. He authored an amendment to the recently passed farm bill to require the Agriculture Department to post details on conference travel online.
Coburn said federal agencies spent more than $2 billion on conferences from 2000 through 2006. The Agriculture Department spent $90 million on conferences in that time, he said.

“Whether it is sending 270 employees in one year to Mickey Mouse’s house in Orlando, attending 28 separate 2006 conferences in Hawaii, or spending a quarter-of-a-million dollars on Las Vegas resort-based conferences, these USDA trips have the appearance of a ‘spring break’ mentality,” he said.

Tom Cole: Congressman Tom Cole has been under fire from some after three GOP congressional race losses to Democrats. Some insiders suggested Cole was about to be shown the door at the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee he chairs, but others say that's just a knee-jerk reaction to a situation Cole didn't create, and GOP leaders are lining up in support of Cole.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, reacting to unrest within the House GOP caucus over the string of special election losses and tough prospects for November, said Wednesday he will name two members to conduct a “performance audit’’ of the party’s recent losing campaigns. Sources who attended the closed-door meeting of the House Republican Conference said Boehner also named Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, to head up a special fund-raising effort for targeted races this fall. The NRCC is way behind its counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in cash on hand and in fund-raising efforts. The minority leader also told the caucus that even though most state primaries are over, he and Cole will get more involved in the remaining ones by trying to head off divisive and potentially expensive primary fights for House nominations.

Cole has been under fire from House Republicans for the three special election defeats that began in March, when the party lost the Illinois 14th District seat of retired Speaker J. Dennis Hastert to Democrat Bill Foster. It continued this month with defeats in Louisiana’s 6th District and Mississippi’s 1st District — both once GOP bastions. Boehner, who has had run-ins with Cole over fund-raising and candidate recruitment, now expresses confidence in Cole, who was elected by the full GOP Conference.

J. C. Watts: There's been considerable blog chatter about the former 4th District congressman as a possible running mate for John McCain. Forget it, for a lot of reasons. The last thing McCain needs is a tie to another lobbyist, which Watts is. McCain needs a large swing state connection and Watts obviously doesn't have that. But...Watts easily could wind up in a top spot in a McCain Administration.

Dan Boren: The 2nd District Democrat was a rock star at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, last week. A new member of the NRA's board of directors, Boren was given a key spot on the speaker's schedule at the NRA's opening general session and received a rousing ovation from the 8,000-10,000 session attendees both before and after his remarks. Chris Cox, head of the NRA Institute of Legislative Action, praised Boren as a patriot whose rock-solid, long-standing support of the 2nd Amendment is an example of American values. To see and hear Boren interviewed on the NRA News show "Cam & Company" by Cam Edwards, Ginny Simone and Mike McCarville, go to http://www.nra.org/, click on "Browse Archives," then click on "2008 Annual Meeting" and then click on "Page 3."

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Cole Chastises House Colleagues

From The Hill ~ Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) chastised his colleagues Tuesday for not contributing to the GOP candidate in an increasingly crucial Mississippi special election, saying those who have not helped “ought to be ashamed of themselves,” Republican sources said.

The harsh admonition from the head of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was the latest rallying cry from GOP campaigners, who have repeatedly cited a lack of enthusiasm and giving from members.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) told his colleagues earlier this year that they needed to get off their “dead asses” and raise money for the NRCC.

Boehner and Cole continued that theme Tuesday at a House GOP meeting, asking members to focus on the Mississippi race just days after the party suffered a second loss of the cycle in former Rep. Richard Baker’s (R) conservative Louisiana district.

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Cole's NRCC Swimming Upstream, Article Suggests

From The Hill ~ Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) is fond of saying things could be a lot worse for his party, but heading into the sixth and seventh special elections of the 2008 election cycle, House Republicans remain very much in a defense mode.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which Cole heads, is spending precious millions to save conservative districts and not registering an independent expenditure on either of its potential takeovers.

Read the entire story at www.thehill.com.

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Cole Reassures GOP Members Over NRCC Probe

By Jackie Kucinich at www.thehill.com ~ Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) on Thursday sought to assure concerned GOP members that a federal probe of financial irregularities at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) will not adversely affect fundraising in the long term.

“These are not problems that will keep us from competing in the fall,” the NRCC chairman told his colleagues during a closed-door meeting of the House Republican Conference, according to sources in the room.

Without sharing details of the probe, Reps. Cole, Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and John Kline (R-Minn.) explained the audit process that the committee was going through, but one Republican source said it was unclear whether NRCC funds are missing.

Conaway, a former CPA, serves as chairman of the NRCC audit committee. Kline serves as NRCC management chairman.

Asked about the probe Thursday, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) told reporters, “I think that Tom Cole and the auditing committee at NRCC will get to the bottom of it.”

In a statement issued late last week, Cole said an unnamed former NRCC employee who served as an outside vendor had been terminated and that the investigation was continuing. The statement noted that federal authorities had been contacted.

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Cole Tells GOP Candidates To Run Against Congress

From The Hill: National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Cole called Tuesday’s Massachusetts special election a blueprint for the 2008 cycle and said he is advising candidates to emulate the GOPer in the race by running against Congress this cycle. Read the entire story: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/colerepublicans-are-harnessing-mass.-candidates-outsider-message-2007-10-18.html

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Boehner Retreats In Cole Face-off

From Politico.com ~ House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) (right)retreated Tuesday in his drive to remove the top two aides at the National Republican Congressional Committee amid widespread complaints about fundraising, recruitment and the competency of its top staff.

The Republican leader tried to smooth over tension with NRCC Chairman Tom Cole (left) during a closed-door meeting with their GOP colleagues Tuesday morning, tacitly acknowledging his differences with the campaign chief while promising members that the committee’s leadership team will remain united.

Cole echoed the same sentiments, members and aides present said, but the outward display of unity still masks deep-seated frustration with operations at the campaign committee from many members.

“Cole and I have had a candid conversation every week,” Boehner said Tuesday as he left the meeting. “I respect Tom Cole. He’s a valued member of this team.

“My goal is to help us earn back our majority,” the Republican leader continued. “I’ve had the same kind of frank and candid conversation about the goals we all need to meet.”

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Politico.com Reports Cole Faces Unrest Over NRCC

Politico.com reports from Washington that Congressman Tom Cole, chairman of the Republican National Congressional Committee, is dealing with demands for staff changes at the NRCC. Read the story here: www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/5963.html

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Washington Post Profiles Tom Cole

Congressman Tom Cole, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, is profiled in The Washington Post. To read the article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050801924.html?hpid=topnews.

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Cole Heads Effort To Raise Indian Tribe Dollars

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has launched a fundraising initiative aimed at increasing donations from deep-pocketed Indian tribes — even though the scandal involving Jack Abramoff and tribal gambling money helped hand Democrats the majority last year and still threatens to ensnare other GOP lawmakers. Read The Hill's report here.

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Cole To GOP House Members: Pay Up

From Hastings Wyman's Southern Political Report ~ Making sure that the Republicans, now in the House minority, have enough money for their 2008 comeback effort is a top early priority for Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole in his role as the new chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

And Cole has quickly made it clear that he wants House Republican incumbents to pay up and help whittle down the substantial debt the NRCC incurred during the 2006 election, in which the GOP lost 30 seats — and majority control — to the Democrats.

The NRCC has already made some progress toward that goal, according to a report the committee filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission. The document showed the NRCC in January reduced its debts to $10.9 million, down about $3.5 million from $14.4 million in red ink reported at the end of December.

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Cole Names Fallin To NRCC Executive Committee

National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Cole announced today that Congresswoman Mary Fallin has been named to the NRCC Executive Committee. As a member of the NRCC Executive Committee, Representative Fallin will play a key role in setting up the structure, raising the funds and implementing the strategy for the 2008 campaign.

“I am looking forward to working with Mary Fallin to develop and execute our game plan for the 2008 elections. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but with the leadership and hard work of this executive committee, we will be well on our way to victory,” Cole said. “We will be doing everything we can to grow our Republican Conference in the House. Mary is one of the Republican Conference’s most able and dedicated members. Having her help and political expertise on the NRCC Executive Committee will be a tremendous asset."

The NRCC Executive Committee is composed of Republican Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The NRCC Executive Committee is an advisory committee appointed by NRCC Chairman Cole. The NRCC is a political committee devoted to increasing the 202-member Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Cole's NRCC Seeks Communications Strategy

Congressman Tom Cole's National Republican Congressional Committee is asking veteran Capitol Hill public relations operatives who now are working in the private sector to volunteer their advice on crafting a communications strategy, The Hill reports.

House Republicans’ loss of 30 seats in the previous cycle was compounded by the exit of Carl Forti, who captained both the NRCC’s communications shop and its independent expenditure campaigns, writing TV ads in a number of races over the past two cycles.

Now, Jessica Boulanger, selected by Cole as Forti’s replacement as communications director, is setting up an informal advisory group to help the party get back on track. At least 10 public relations professionals with decades of Hill experience among them are meeting with Boulanger on Feb. 8 at the Capitol Hill Club, for the first of what they expect will be regular meetings to plot strategy.

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Cole Moves Two More Staffers To NRCC

Congressman Tom Cole has moved two more of his congressional office staff members to the staff of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) he now heads.

Cole said his communications director, Julie Bley Shutley of Bethany, is now deputy communications director at the NRCC and that Bryce Korney, staff member who managed his 2004 and 2006 campaigns, is now in the NRCC's political department. He also said that Virginia-based consultant Clinton Key, former Oklahoma Republican State chairman who has worked with Cole on his COLEPAC operation, is now a consultant to the NRCC.

Previously, Cole moved his chief of staff, Pete Kirkham, to the NRCC staff as executive director.

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Cole Moves Kirkham To NRCC Slot

Congressman Tom Cole filled the number one staff position at the National Republican Congressional Committee by announcing that Pete Kirkham will be moving over from his personal office to serve as Executive Director of the NRCC. Pete Kirkham has served as Congressman Cole's Chief of Staff since June 2003.

"Pete has been an instrumental part of my staff in the personal office and I have every confidence in his ability to take over as the Executive Director of the NRCC. He has good political instincts and is a great leader and manager," Congressman Tom Cole said.

Kirkham has extensive experience on Capitol Hill including: Legislative Director for Jim Gerlach (R-PA); Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Rep. Wes Watkins (R-OK); and Legislative Director for Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. Herb Bateman (R-VA).

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