January 27, 2006

The Congressman and Sallie Mae

By STEPHEN BURD

Representative Boehner's links to student-loan giant could complicate his climb up Capitol Hill

Now that Rep. John A. Boehner has become a leading candidate to be the next majority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Ohio Republican's ties to Sallie Mae are coming under scrutiny by the news media and some lawmakers.

Sallie Mae, the nation's largest student-loan provider, has been one of the top contributors to Mr. Boehner's campaign war chest. As chairman of the