By Carl Weiser
Enquirer Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Reps. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, and John Boehner, R-West Chester, aren't just congressmen, they're Republican ATM machines.

The two incumbents have given away more than $350,000 of their campaign money to other Republicans this fall.

To put the amount in perspective, that's more money than Ohio's 17 challengers for seats in Washington have raised for their own campaigns - combined.

BENEFICIARIES

Who's received money from Rep. Rob Portman's campaign fund: • Party: Mr. Portman donated $100,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee in June and another $96,500 in September. He's also given to county parties. • Federal: He helped out a dozen fellow congress members last year with $1,000 checks, including Republicans running in Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, and West Virginia. And former Republican Rep. Mark Sanford, running for governor of South Carolina, got $1,000. • State: Just about every local GOP statehouse candidate got $250 contributions this year. Among them: Sheryl Ross and Jim Raussen.   Who's received money from Rep. John Boehner's campaign fund: • Party: Mr. Boehner donated $135,000 to the NRCC in late September. He also has helped out state and county parties. • Federal: Most of his donations to federal candidates come from his leadership political action committee. • State: Like Mr. Portman, Mr. Boehner used his campaign fund to donate to Gov. Bob Taft's re-election and a few state candidates.

The two conservative Republicans, expected to be easily re-elected, have collected $2.26 million for their campaign funds. According to their campaign reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, they have donated "excess" campaign money to the National Republican Congressional Committee, the GOP group working to keep the House in Republican control.

Both men also have donated thousands to state and even to Cincinnati city council candidates such as Pat DeWine and Chris Monzel.

The reason? They just like Republicans. And their jobs.

If Democrats retake the House, Mr. Boehner would lose his chairmanship of the House education committee, said Mr. Boehner's spokesman, Steve Forde. And Mr. Portman could lose his post in the Republican leadership.

Donating extra money to other candidates or the party is not only common, it's virtually required of any member in a safe district who aspires to rise to - or stay in - party leadership. Mr. Portman said the fund-raising for other Republicans came with his job as chairman of the House Republican leadership.

"I'm also doing what I can to help Republican candidates in Ohio. I want to help Republicans stay in the majority in the state House and state Senate."

The donations came from the West Chester-based Friends of John Boehner fund and the Cincinnati-based Portman for Congress Committee.

The Democrats running in those districts, Charles Sanders and Jeff Hardenbrook, have raised about $10,000 each.

Jennifer Hardenbrook - Mr. Hardenbrook's sister, campaign manager and campaign spokeswoman - said the giveaway shows that Mr. Boehner is a "Beltway power broker," rather than someone who pays attention to his district. "He's raising all kinds of money and spending it outside the district," she said.

In addition to the re-election funds, both Mr. Boehner and Mr. Portman have special pots of money known as leadership PACs, which have the sole function of raising money for others.

Mr. Boehner operates the Freedom Project, which has handed out $470,525 to Republicans.

Mr. Portman runs the America's Majority Trust, which handed out $100,000 to House candidates and $5,000 to Senate candidates.

Email cweiser@gns.gannett.com