Bay Mills Land Claims Settlement in Congress
In the 108th Congress (2003-04), Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), a freshman member, introduced H.R. 831 on February 13, 2003 after barely serving one month as a Member of Congress. Rep Don Young (R-AK) agreed to co-author the bill. The bill was the sixth attempt in less than a decade to get congressional approval on land claims settlements for the Bay Mills Indian Community (Brimley, MI). The first three bills were introduced by Rep. Bart Stupak (R-MI). H.R. 831 was finally scheduled to be heard before the House Resources Committee 16 months later (on June 24, 2004).
Rep. Miller represents Michigan’s 10th District, a seat previously held by former Rep. David Bonior (D-MI). Port Huron is in Miller’s districit.
Rep. Stupak represents Michigan’s 1st District. The Bay Mills Indian Reservation is in his district.
Casino Syndicators Behind Bay Mills
Detroit casino syndicators Marian Ilitch and Michael J. Malik, Sr. are backing the Bay Mills tribe‘s casino plans. They have been working with the Bay Mills Indians since 1994 to site a more lucrative urban casino site. Previous proposed locations have included Auburn Hills, Detroit and Pontiac.
Marian Ilitch and her husband Michael Ilitch founded Little Caesars Pizza carry-outs in 1959 and established Ilitch Holdings, Inc in1999. They own the Red Wings Hockey team, Detroit’s Fox Theater and various other dining and entertainment related businesses. He owns the Detroit Tigers baseball team; and she owns MotorCity, one of the three large commercial casinos in Detroit. She continues to partner with Michael Malik on gaming ventures (IH Gaming, Inc. Barwest, Gateway Casino Resorts, etc.). The parent of all these entities is Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Parallel Political Fundraising Activities
Team Ilitch makes widespread use of "bundling" to federal candidates who have taken significant actions to advance the expansion of Team Ilitch's gaming empire. In addition, Team Ilitch is able to beat the individual contribution limits governing campaign committees by either encouraging establishment or giving to so-called leadership PAC's or contributing to party committees that are designed to directly benefit a specific Member of Congress. Since 2002, the Ilitch Family members and Michael J. Malik, Sr. have contributed $16,000 to Alaskans for Don Young, Inc. (he, and no one elese, co-authored two of the six congressional bills); there are no records of previous or subsequent contributions to Rep. Young. To put it in context with their other giving, Ilitch/Malik also contributed a total of $16,000 individually to Rep. Richard Pombo’s RICH PAC during this same period of time; and when reviewed in combination with their partners, agents and advocates contributed a total of $40,000 to RICH PAC.
On the other end of the giving spectrum, from March 2003 to June 2005 (a little more than two years), Ilitch Family and their casino syndication associate Michael Malik made at least 20 recorded individual (non-PAC) contributions totaling $74,000 to Rep. Candice Miller’s political committees:
1. $14,000 to her campaign committee, Candice Miller for Congress; and
2. $60,000 to her “leadership PAC,” Conservative American Network Delivering Increased Congressional Excellence (CANDICE) PAC.
Nearly all of that was paid on one of three specific dates:
1. $13,000 on March 11, 2003(all to Miller for Congress Campaign)
2. $30,000 on April 2, 2004 (all $5k each to CANDICE PAC)
3. $25,000 on June 30, 2005 (all $5k each to CANDICE PAC)
CANDICE PAC filed a Statement of Organization with the Federal Elections Commission on February 13, 2003 – ironically the same day she introducedH.R. 831.
In the first disclosure report filed by CANDICE PAC July 18, 2003 for the period closing June 30, 2003 there were just three donations recorded totaling $6,500 and received in this order as follows:
1. $5,000 from Michael Malik on March 19, 2003
2. $500 from John Milne on April 25, 2003; and
3. $1,000 from Mark Valente III on June 30, 2003
A review of FEC disclosure documents through June 30, 2004 (three official reporting periods after CANDICE PAC was formed), indicates CANDICE PAC had raised $55,649 from individual (non-PAC) contributors -- 83% of that came from Ilitch Family/Malik and a Florida family (Cherry) that makes gaming devices (ID Interactive) on the same day (April 2, 2004) – any affiliation between the Cherry Family and Ilitch/Malik is unknown at this time.
During the subsequent two year ’06 campaign finance cycle, CANDICE PAC raised $30,594 from individual contributors and $25,000 (82%) came from Ilitch/Malik -- once again avoiding any limits that would apply to donors/funds directed to a campaign committee.
On February 9, 2006, CANDICE PAC made two $5000 contributions to Candice Miller for Congress, Shelby Township, MI; however, contributions from one's leadership PAC to their respective campaign committee are prohibited.
PAC Treasurer Mark Valente III terminated CANDICE PAC on June 28, 2006 after lobbyists’ ties to “leadership PACs” had come under great scrutiny in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. By terminating the leadership committee on June 28, 2006; the committee avoided the spotlight that other active committees endured in the Fall ’06 Elections.
Campaign Finance Summary
From inception to termination, at least 48% of all funds (from individuals and other PACs) received by CANDICE PAC came from the Ilitch Family, Malik. Ilitch/Malik made up a much greater share of the total contributed by individuals (80%+). In various analyses available from PoliticalMoneyLine for Congressional Quarterly ’04 & ’06, it is clear to see that Ilitch Family and Malik were significant forces behind CANDICE PAC and perhaps the reason CANDICE PAC was formed.
In the 28 months that followed February 13, 2003 – the day Rep. Miller introduced H.R. 831 and her treasurer filed paperwork establishing CANDICE PAC -- Ilitch/Malik made individual contributions totalling at least $74,000 to Rep Candice Miller’s controlled committees ($60,000 of that to CANDICE PAC); far out distancing contributions they made to the controlled committees of any other Federal office holder.
During this same period for instance, these casino backers contributed $32,000 to committees controlled directly by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). Ultimately Stabenow was the beneficiary of more than $113,000 in campaign funds contributed by Ilitch/Malik; however she did not control the majority of those funds as they were directed to Party committees for the Party's use in electing a Democrat to the Senate from Michigan.
Similar to Rep. Miller's circumstances, Stabenow introduced S. 2986, one of the six Bay Mills Indian land claims settlement bills, on Sept. 20, 2002. A hearing before the full Senate Indian Affairs Committee was held two weeks later on October 10, 2002.
The contributions to Stabenow and the Democratic party organizations were delivered after she introduced S. 2986.
As with Rep. Miller, Senator Stabenow (previously a Member of the House of Representatives) does not appear to have received support for her political career from Ilitch/Malik prior to introducing the bill.
You may also want to review these posts:
The Verifiable Truth: Michigan Senator's re-election realizes $113,000 from Detroit syndicators after she introduces plans for their Port Huron Indian Casino
Great Lakes Politics: Bay Mills & Malik get into Plastics; Senator Stabenow announces they'll get $900,000 federal jumpstart
Candy Land: Calling for More Candy
The Verifiable Truth: Ilitch Family, Associate increased political contributions 2000%
The Verifiable Truth: Six bills in Congress, over six years & political gifts in the six figures: That's what Ilitch Family has invested in Port Huron Casino deal
No comments:
Post a Comment