Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (above) confirmed that Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel has already asked him about the $186,000 he reported in the bank at the end of December.
Meanwhile, the seven retiring House Republicans have almost $3.5 million among their combined accounts. Among House Republicans, Rep. Todd Platts (Pa.) had the smallest bank account of the retiring class so far, with just $35,000. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) had the largest, with $783,000 in cash on hand at the end of 2011.
"We do ask and encourage Members as they can fully support the NRCC to do so," National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) said. "Many times, redistricting has changed their lot in life as opposed to some other circumstances and they recognize that we have an intrinsic interest to hold the seat after them, and they are aware of that."
A recent tally of House Republican Member transfers to the NRCC was not available.
But at least once this cycle, redistricting left a retiring House Republican with hard feelings.
Last year, Ohio Republicans drew a new Congressional map that moved Rep. Steve Austria into a difficult House district that favored fellow GOP Rep. Michael Turner. Faced with nearly certain defeat in the primary, Austria reluctantly announced retirement at the last minute of the filing deadline.
As a result, the situation could get more awkward if House Republicans press Austria for his leftover campaign cash. So far, Austria said, his Republican colleagues — including the NRCC — have not hit him up for his more than $419,000 in campaign cash.
"They have not," Austria said. "We will follow the process as far as returning those dollars to contributors who contributed to the fall election, and then we're going to pay our campaign expenses and then follow the process."
Other Members are taking their time deciding who will get their final campaign funds.
Boren plans to spend all of his remaining funds minus this cycle's contributions, and the 38-year-old Blue Dog said he won't save the cash for a future bid.
"I want to take some time to think about it," Boren said. "But certainly, there are a lot of worthwhile things in the state that I want to focus on."
In other words, the DCCC should not wait by the phone for Boren to call with his checkbook open.
"Chairman Israel is very aggressive, and you want that in your chairman," Boren added. "I'm sure that I'll get a few more calls."
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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