Boehner to Visit Lemont for Private Fundraiser

United States Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) will visit Lemont on Saturday to fundraise for his own political warchest, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The $2,000-per-couple fundraiser will be held Saturday at the home of Terrence A. Duffy, executive chairman of the CME Group, and his wife, Jennifer. Proceeds go to Boehner for Speaker, a committee composed of Friends of John Boehner and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

According to the Sun-Times, a photo reception is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by Beatles tribute band American English.

Boehner is also scheduled to appear, along with several Illinois politicians, at a fundraiser in Hinsdale on Friday to support an Illinois group fighting against state Democrats' proposed redistricting, .

The fundraiser for the Committee for a Fair and Balanced Map, an organization opposed to the Democratic redistricting map in Illinois, will take place at a private residence in Hinsdale Friday and has a guest list that features Boehner, former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert as well as U.S. Reps. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) and Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), according to an event flier.

Committee spokesman John McGovern said Boehner will speak at the event. He could not confirm whether the other guests will make speeches.

Those interested in attending were given donation options that ranged from $500 to $10,000. According to McGovern, the event is not "tiered," meaning there are no additional privileges for guests that choose to donate more. 

The Committee for a Fair and Balanced Map is a newly established, independent organization made up of Illinois citizens who think the redistricting map passed by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly provides "a partisan advantage," according to its website.

The committee is listed as one of 17 plaintiffs in a and eight other individual defendants. Biggert and Roskam are among the plaintiffs.

The committee filed a motion for an injunction that would preclude the board of elections from implementing the new district map, which was passed by Springfield lawmakers in May. 

“Together, we are committed to making sure that all Illinois voters have an opportunity to elect the representatives they chose—not those forced upon them by political power-brokers in Springfield,” the “About Us” page on the committee's website reads. “We will explore every option available to us to protect Illinois voters, preserve communities of interest, and empower the democratic process.”

Hastert is one of seven people who sit on the committee's board of directors. Lynn Martin is the organization's chairwoman.