Speaker John Boehner on Monday announced he was retooling his political operation to better coordinate with the National Republican Congressional Committee and Republican National Committee to try to expand House Republicans’ majority.
The Ohio Republican announced the formation of Team Boehner. Under it, Freedom Project, his leadership political action committee, and Friends of John Boehner, his PAC, will work more directly with the NRCC and the RNC.
“With the White House and Senate in play and our new House majority to defend, there is much at stake in 2012,” Boehner said in a statement. “Team Boehner’s goal is to make sure that American families and small businesses understand that Republicans are listening to their priorities and concerns, and fighting on their behalf.
Boehner also announced several new hires, including Tom Whatman, who will serve as executive director of all of the Ohio Republican’s political operations. Whatman joins Boehner’s team after serving as CEO of the Strategic Public Partners Group. Chris McNulty has also been hired to serve as deputy executive director. McNulty, who most recently worked as Great Lakes regional political director for the RNC, will be tasked with working closely with the NRCC’s political team. Kevin McGrann and Caitlin Wohlfarth are heading up the effort as political director and finance director. Robyn Knecht is joining as deputy finance director after her work as finance director for Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.).
Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the IRS, arrives for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the investigation of the IRS' targeting of political groups. Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to not testify and caused a protest from some committee members when she offered an opening statement and engaged in dialogue with members before invoking the right.
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