WASHINGTON -- Two high-profile Arizona congressmen are amongst those Republican Conference members who have yet to pay dues to the cash-strapped National Republican Congressional Committee’s fall “Battleground” fundraising program, which is aiming to raise $12 million from Republicans in the House.

U.S. Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Mesa) and John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) can’t lay claim to helping out in the effort. With seven weeks until voters head to the polls, Flake and Shadegg have yet to open their checkbooks, according to a Republican aide familiar with the fundraising efforts who asked not to be identified.

Like all GOP members, each cycle Flake and Shadegg are expected to meet “assessments,” a contribution to the program based on one’s seniority status and membership in a committee or subcommittee. Flake, who serves on the Foreign Affairs and Resources committees, has a $70,000 assessment. Shadegg, who serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, owes $150,000.

As of August, Flake had $1 million in his campaign bank account while Shadegg had $1.3 million. Shadegg is facing a competitive re-election this fall. Flake is not.

Representatives for Flake and Shadegg did not comment for this story.

A spokesperson for the NRCC said the committee does not comment on members’ dues as a matter of policy.

The annual House Republican Battleground fundraising effort kicked off in July with House Minority John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) reportedly cutting $500,000 checks and rank and file members making contributions and pledges of their own. The program is designed to fund the NRCC’s fall advertising blitz. 

Shadegg and Flake aren’t the only members who have yet to pay up. U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), a former chairman of the Science Judiciary committees, has kept his wallet closed. So has U.S. Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), a former chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and retiring U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), the current ranking member on Oversight and Government Reform. Retiring U.S. Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.), a former NRCC chair, has yet to pony up either, according to the Republican House aide.

Other veteran Republicans who haven’t given include: U.S. Reps. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), Connie Mack (R-Fla.), Sue Myrick (R-S.C.), Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), Henry Brown (R-S.C.), Nathan Deal (R-Ga.), Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla).

“These are some of the more senior members of the conference,” said the staffer. “It would help if they helped out the team. They’re at zero.”

A look at the respective parties’ fundraising reports provides some insight into the grumbling. Despite out-raising the DCCC by $3 million in July, the Republican campaign arm still trailed its Democratic counterpart by $56 million to $14 million in cash in the bank at the end of the month. National Democrats have pledged to spend $53 million in 51 House contests this fall, while the NRCC has initially reserved $8.8 million in advertising time in 26 races. 

It has been a rocky fundraising cycle for the NRCC. Following the beating the GOP took in the 2006 elections, the committee faced a debt of $19 million and a blizzard of retirements. Earlier this year the NRCC faced an FBI investigation into its accounting practices during the 2006 cycle.

"Due to a lot of uncertainty early in the cycle I think members were less inclined to give directly to the committee and opted to give directly to vulnerable member's campaigns,” said a Republican aide in a competitive House race.

Shadegg and Flake have given money individually to Republicans in competitive races this fall. Shadegg has provided $7,000 to 8th Congressional District candidate Tim Bee, $1,000 to New Mexico 1st Congressional District candidate Darren White, and $1,000 to Ohio 16th Congressional District candidate Kirk Schuring. Flake gave $2,000 to Bee, $1,000 to former Kansas 2nd Congressional District candidate Jim Ryun, and U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.).  

Shadegg’s silence on the money front is especially notable. Last cycle Shadegg, who was pursuing a GOP leadership role at the time, contributed nearly $500,000. Through June the Phoenix Republican had given the committee just $25,000 this cycle.

The Republican House Conference will have another Battleground meeting again in several weeks - at which time Shadegg and Flake will have an opportunity to open their wallets for the NRCC.