House lawmakers reported a decline in political fund raising in the first three months of the midterm-election cycle, driven largely by a drop in donations to Republicans, according to new finance reports.
The reports, filed with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, are the latest evidence that individuals and corporate political-action committees are dialing back on political contributions during the recession.
Separate figures reported last week showed that donations to the Democratic and Republican parties for the 2009-10 election cycle slid 23% in January and February compared with the same period in the prior election cycle. Contributions by corporate fund-raising arms to both parties declined 6% over the same period.
Three Democratic members of Congress from Minnesota, including House representative Ilhan Omar, were blocked from entering...
