Alaska’s only Member of the House of Representatives Don Young had his best fundraising day of the 2006 campaign on May 23, 2005, as reported by PoliticalMoneyLine for Congressional Quarterly (see chart below). On that day, Young’s political committee made $58.000.00. The bulk of the money came from two families – each making aggressive moves to expand the gambling operations that are part of their vast privately held empires.
The Detroit, Michigan based family of Mike & Marian Ilitch and their associates contributed at least $18,000 that day (9 individual contributions). Ilitch Holdings include Little Caesars Enterprises, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and MotorCity Casino. To expand their empire of restaurant and entertainment holdings they have been aggressively pursuing (bankrolling) “off-reservation” gambling operations with tribes in Michigan, New York and California for more than a decade.
Richard Alcalde, a principal lobbyist with the Potomac Partners, D.C., and then a new lobbyist for Ilitch Family interests was one of the 58 contributors to Rep. Young that day too.
The Kenosha, Wisconsin based family of Dennis Troha and their associates contributed $22,000 (11 individual contributions). The Troha Family fortune was built in trucking and Troha is legendary for his union busting activities. Their companies include John Houston Corporation & Transport Venture (JHT) and Auto Truck Transport Corporation (ATC). He too has been aggressively bankrolling Indian casino projects including an $808 million casino with the Menominee Tribe.
Troha was indicted on March 1, 2007 and charged with illegally funneling $100,000 in contributions through his children to the campaign of Gov. Jim Doyle and other political funds and then lying about it to the FBI; activity said to be an attempt to influence approval of the Menominee Tribe casino.
Together the Ilitch and Troha Families and their closest associates contributed $40,000 to Rep. Young’s committee -- 70% of the total money raised on Young’s biggest fundraising day of the 2006 election cycle. The largest single checks ($2,100 each) came from Ilitch Family members and Michael J. Malik, Sr., their casino syndication associate.
Young, is currently the ranking Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee since Rep. Richard Pombo failed to win re-election.
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
| Top 10 Contributions by Date From Individuals 2006 Election Cycle | |||
| 1. | $58,000.00 | 35 | |
| 2. | $47,050.00 | 59 | |
| 3. | $43,770.00 | 91 | |
| 4. | $42,550.00 | 61 | |
| 5. | $41,700.00 | 68 | |
| 6. | $41,449.00 | 82 | |
| 7. | $33,100.00 | 62 | |
| 8. | $29,976.00 | 44 | |
| 9. | $29,100.00 | 47 | |
| 10. | $27,946.00 | 59 | |
From PoliticalMoneyLine for Congressional Quarterly
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