Boehner raises $29M for House Republicans

WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- Rep. John Boehner has raised more than $29 million for fellow Republicans in his first six months as speaker of the House, sources close to him say.

At this rate, the Ohio Republican will top the $50 million he raised in the whole 2010 election cycle, The Hill reported Friday.

The speaker has reorganized his political operation into Team Boehner, which comprises Boehner for Speaker; his personal campaign committee, Friends of John Boehner, and his leadership political action committee, the Freedom Project.

Boehner has funneled millions to the National Republican Congressional Committee and the 87 GOP freshmen, helping secure their loyalty.

"Speaker Boehner is committed to doing everything possible in support of our members who are building winning campaigns to strengthen the new House majority and advance our conservative, pro-jobs agenda in Democrat-run Washington," spokesman Cory Fritz said.

Boehner's predecessor, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has held 154 fundraising events in the past six months for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to regain control in 2012, but the sum raised has not been released.