John Boehner

A political committee affiliated with House Speaker John Boehner is paying a $4,300 civil penalty for receiving $57,276 in excessive contributions during the 2012 election cycle

(Lauren Victoria Burke / Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A political fundraising committee run by House Speaker John Boehner has agreed to pay a $4,300 civil penalty for failing to return or redesignate $57,276 in excessive contributions it received during the 2012 election cycle.

The Federal Election Committee on Friday made public the settlement it reached with Friends of John Boehner, the West Chester Republican's campaign committee. The committee obtained the excess contributions from 32 individuals, four multi-candidate political action committees, and three non-multi-candidate political action committees.

Campaign laws limit the amount of money that individuals and political committees can give candidates in a two-year election period. The Federal Election Commission audits reports from candidates like Boehner to make sure they comply with those limits.

In addition to paying the fine, Boehner's committee agreed to certify that one of its representatives participated in an FEC training program and that it implemented internal controls to keep future mistakes from being made.

FEC records show the political committees that gave too much to Boehner's campaign included the National Association of Health Underwriters, Exelon, Genesis Health Care Corp., Rock Tenn Company, Groom Law Group, and Zuffa PAC, which is affiliated with a company that runs "ultimate" fighting competitions.

"Large committees routinely handle these issues," said Boehner spokesman Cory Fritz. "We take compliance with FEC rules and regulations seriously, and have taken corrective actions."