Eyeing House Commerce chairmanship, Rep Stearns plays catch-up on member donations

Rep Cliff Stearns (R-FL) is making up for lost time in his bid to be chairman of a key committee with jurisdiction over technology. Rep Stearns has given $1,000 checks to each of the eight Republican House candidates in contested races, according to a former Stearns aide. The ranking member of the House Commerce Committee subcommittee that oversees telecom policy, Rep Stearns has expressed interest in leading the full committee in the next Congress. Donating to new members is one way to curry favor with the steering committee that will vote on the position -- voting members consider such factors as seniority and financial support to Republicans.