The figures come from the Federal Election Commission and are contained in a database run by a nonpartisan Washington group, the Center for Responsive Politics.

According to the database, neither Hastert's nor Boehner's leadership PAC - Keep Our Majority and Freedom Project, respectively - ever gave money to Foley.

Blunt's PAC, on the other hand, gave $2,384 to Foley in the 2004 election cycle and $2,090 in the 2002 election cycle, for a total of $9,473 in the past three elections.

'Part of his role'

Blunt is one of the most prolific fund-raisers in Congress, with his political action committee giving away $791,511 for the 2006 election so far. Only two of 249 leadership PACs in the House and Senate for both parties reported making larger contributions for the 2006 election.

Taylor Snyder said giving away money to help keep his party in power is part of Blunt's job as majority whip, and that he has given to many candidates.

"That's part of his role as majority whip, to help his colleagues get re-elected," she said.

In fact, Blunt also has given money this year to U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., who is calling for an investigation of the House Republican leadership. Shays has said that if House leaders knew, or should have known, about the problem with Foley, they should resign their leadership posts.

Others also are calling for resignations, including The Washington Times, which has a conservative editorial voice. Hastert has dismissed the call for his resignation.

Democrats have criticized Hastert and other Republicans, referring to the handling of the affair as a cover-up to protect their congressional power.

Questions left with Hastert's office Tuesday about whether Blunt was told about Foley before the news went public, and whether some Republicans were kept in the dark in order to keep money flowing into Foley's campaign, were not returned.

For his part, Blunt believes Hastert has been a strong and effective leader, said Taylor Snyder.

"He supports him," she said.

Last week, Hastert, Boehner and Blunt issued a joint statement saying, "The improper communications between Congressman Mark Foley and former House congressional pages is unacceptable and abhorrent. It is an obscene breach of trust."

"I can't say enough about how upset Congressman Blunt is," Taylor Snyder said.