Get Off 'Dead Asses' and Raise Cash, Rep. Tells GOP

House Minority Leader John Boehner yesterday told Republican colleagues to get off their “dead asses” and raise money for the fall election, Politico reports. Ahead of a March 12 dinner, only 15 representatives have met fundraising goals, 42 members have failed—and 142 haven’t even set goals. The GOP's congressional committee currently has $6.4 million to the Democrats' $35.5 million.

The GOP committee's chairman, Oklahoma's Tom Cole, used the same session to tell Republicans they’d better hit the $7.5 million goal—or get used to life in the minority. GOP fundraising ended 2007 on a good note, but '08 has seen new scandals and fresh retirement announcements. The party did, however, outraise the majority Dems in January. (More campaign fundraising stories.)