Levin, Camp help fund more vulnerable candidates

Michigan Reps. Sander Levin and Dave Camp both hold leadership positions on the House Ways and Means Committee for the Democratic and Republican parties respectively, putting them in a position to raise large amounts of money. And because they’re in relatively safe districts and should be easily reelected, they can use that money to support more vulnerable legislators in their parties. The Detroit Free Press reports:

U.S. Reps. Sander Levin and Dave Camp have raised nearly $5 million between them because seniority alone doesn’t cut it these days for congressional leaders. They also must be aggressive fund-raisers to help their parties and colleagues in toss-up districts.

Nowhere on Capitol Hill is that more true than in the Ways and Means Committee, which oversees federal taxes and trade and tariff policies, as well as safety-net programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Its jurisdiction is vast, and so is its members’ fund-raising abilities.

Democrat Levin is chairman, but if Republicans take control of the House, the job likely is Camp’s.

This is all part of the way Congress works. If you want leadership positions and plum committee chairmanships, you need to raise money for other candidates to get their support in the caucus votes.