House, Senate GOP see fundraising numbers drop in 2009 compared to last non-election year

The Minnesota Republican Party and state House and Senate GOP caucuses started 2009 with cash to spend on campaigning.

But the House and Senate GOP caucuses raised less money than the last non-election year in 2007, while the statewide Minnesota Republican Party improved on its haul from two years ago.

Monday was the filing deadline for 2009 state candidate, political party unit and political committee fundraising reports.

The Minnesota House Republican campaign committee, officially known as HRCC, raked in $828,504 in 2009, according to today’s filing with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board (CFPD). That compares to $1.2 million in 2007 contributions.

The campaign committee that helps elect Republicans to the state House ended 2009 with $448,887 in cash on hand.

The HRCC started 2009 with $157,419 in the bank and spent $514,036 during the year. The committee made $22,000 in contributions to other political committees.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s decision last year to unallot the political contribution refund [PCR] dampened the results, said HRCC Treasurer Matt Dean. The program gave donors a tax refund on small donations.

“The dip is not as much as I thought it would be given the overall economy. …The small donors are really giving from the heart without that refund,” Dean said.

The state Senate GOP Caucus, which raises money through its Senate Victory Fund, raised $337,000 in 2009. That compares to 2007 when the Senate Victory Fund raised $491,365. It spent $242,530 in 2009 and ended the year with $162,447 in cash on hand, according to its filing. The Senate Victory Fund began 2009 with $65,043 in the bank.

The Minnesota Republican Party’s committee raised $532,261 in 2009. That’s an increase from $490,000 raised in 2007. The party started the year with $63,316 and ended the year with $58,426 in cash on hand, according to party spokesman Mark Drake.