These “aggressive” post-election fundraising efforts, says the Post, “underscore the financial pressures facing new members of Congress even before they take their seats” and also “represent a symbolic challenge for the Republican class of 2010, many of whom gained office by running against the ways of official Washington and monied interests.”

The fundraising push is pragmatic, Republican officials and legislative aides told the Post, as new House members must

take care of debts from 2010 so they can turn their attention to…

…the critical concerns of constituents?

… the next [election/fundraising] cycle, according to aides and campaign-finance experts.

As for this past cycle, and all that debt incurred therein? Among the names, spotted by the Post in disclosure reports, assisting freshmen lawmakers with that debt: Rolls-Royce, Verizon Communications,Yum Brands Inc.

And about changing Washington and all that? One political consultant who raises money for ten GOP freshmen “scoffed at the idea that accepting money from corporate PACs and lobbyists is at odds with the anti-Washington message of the 2010 class,” telling the Post:

“These guys ran against Washington, but they ran against the bad parts of Washington—the bloated bureaucracy and Nancy Pelosi’s agenda. That’s not a contradiction to take money from a trade group or corporation that represents free-enterprise principles.”

So, anti-Washington (but, just the “bad parts”).

TAGS: , , , ,

Liz Cox Barrett is a writer at CJR.