WASHINGTON — Minnesota U.S. Rep. John Kline is a co-chair for a new National Republican Congressional Committee effort meant to raise millions of dollars through the House Republican caucus.

The NRCC intends to raise $26 million from within the Republican caucus in part to help shore up a new round of advertising reservations announced this week, according to Politico. The NRCC confirmed Kline is a co-chair of the so-called "Battleground Program."

The NRCC announced $5.7 million in new advertising reservations on Tuesday, most in districts represented by Republicans. The NRCC had previously reserved ad time in Minneapolis to support Rep. Chip Cravaack's re-election bid.

According to Politico:

Picking up the tab for the NRCC’s ad push will be none other than GOP lawmakers looking to keep their majority.

The NRCC plans to jump-start its internal fundraising campaign Tuesday to extract $26 million from House Republicans — a major effort internally dubbed the Battleground Program.

Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, the No. 4 House Republican, is heading up the effort, which will be the subject of a closed-door meeting of lawmakers at the Capitol Hill Club on Tuesday, according to Republican aides. ... The Battleground Program is the party’s major dues drive of the year. Lawmakers are assessed from $80,000 to $600,000 depending on seniority and committee assignments.

House Speaker John Boehner approached Kline about becoming a co-chairman of the effort last week. Fellow co-chairs include Reps. Patrick McHenry (N.C.), Kristi Noem (S.D.), Lynn Westmoreland (Ga.) and Peter Roskam (Ill.).

Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.