House Dems collect $22.6m in dues, fundraising in 1Q

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee collected $22.6 million in the first quarter from dues and fundraising by U.S. House members, officials said. Figures indicated $4.3 million, about 19 percent, of what the DCCC has collected so far this year came from caucus dues, Roll Call reported Wednesday. More than half of the House Democratic Caucus raised money or contributed to the committee, including 92 percent of freshmen, Roll Call said. Figures indicated the DCCC raised $3 million more in the first quarter of 2013 than it did in for the same period in 2012. The DCCC raised $10.2 million raised in March and will report having $8.9 million cash on hand at the end of the month and $4.5 million in debt, Roll Call said. \"Our record-breaking fundraising success this quarter has been built on our members stepping forward and our grass-roots stepping up,\" DCCC Chairman Steve Israel of New York said in a statement. Books closed for first-quarter fundraising at the end of March. Federal campaigns must report finances by April 15. Congressional campaign committees get a few additional days to file monthly reports.