CONFIRMED by OpenSecrets.org: Two prominent Great Lakes area families bankrolling high-profile "off-reservation" casino plans in CA, MI, NY and WI are among Rep. Don Young's "Top 10" donors (likely even "Top 5" donors); as reported by Opensecrets.org for the Center for Responsive Politics. Both families and several of their closest associates contributed to Young on the same day, 5.23.05; making that Young's highest grossing fundraising day in of the two year election cycle.
The family of Dennis Troha through its JHT Holdings (Kenosha, WI) is ranked by Opensecrets.org as #3 among Young's donors overall . Troha's fortune was built in the trucking industry. Troha was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in March (2007) on charges of money laundering/campaign finance fraud and lying to the the FBI. It's alledged that he directed family members to contribute $100,000 to Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and then in effect reimbursed them for the costs of the donations. Governor Doyle has approval authority critical to Troha's proposed casino venture.
The family of Mike Ilitch and Marian Ilitch through Ilitch Holdings, Inc. (Detroit, MI) ranks #6 on Young's list of overall contributors during the last election cycle. Mike & Marian Iitch co-founded Little Caesars Pizza almost 50 years ago. Their holdings include the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit's MotorCity Casino and the management and licensing of several major sports arena/stadiums, theaters and concert halls in Detroit plus other related subsidiaries. If the Ilitch Holdings calculations were to include Michael J. Malik's contributions; Ilitch Holdings, Inc. rank would move up two places to #4 among all contributors to Don Young during the two year campaign cycle. Young had previously co-authored a bill intended to approve by Act of Congress one of the casino proposals they have backed.
The Ilitch Family organization ranked among the "Top 10" donors to another former chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Richard Pombo. For the 2004/2006 campaign cycles, Mike and Marian Ilitch ranked #9 on Pombo's RICH PAC individual contributors list and Michael J. Malik, Sr., Ilitch family gambling associate, ranked #5. The Ilitches and Malik ranked ahead of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff who was #10 on Pombo's "Top 10" list. As they've done for Young, the Ilitch Family organizations have handled travel and private airplane arrangements for Pombo too.
Both families contributions to Young rank ahead of some of America's most established and influential special interest groups inlcuding Lockheed Martin, FedEx, National Association of Home Builders, and National Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association.
Both families practice "bundling" campaign contributions -- that is, the practice of gathering checks in large or maximum amounts from various family members and associates (often one for the primary election cycle and at the same time a duplicate for the general election cycle), literally bundling them together and then handing them over at one time for greater impact. In effect it's one way of beating the campaign contribution limit laws that are in place. At this point only Troha is charged with criminal activity.
Rep. DON YOUNG (R-AK)
Top Contributors 2005 - 2006
| 1 | Veco Corp | $25,250 |
| 2 | Carnival Corp | $21,650 |
| 3 | JHT Holdings (Dennis Troha Family - WI) | $18,500 |
| 4 | Blank Rome LLP | $14,150 |
| 5 | Wal-Mart Stores | $14,000 |
| 6 | Ilitch Holdings (Mike & Marian Ilitch Family- MI) | $12,000 |
| 7 | Lockheed Martin | $11,500 |
| 8 | American Council of Engineering Cos | $11,000 |
| 9 | Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel | $10,481 |
| 10 | Air Line Pilots Assn | $10,000 |
| 10 | American Maritime Officers | $10,000 |
| 10 | Carpenters & Joiners Union | $10,000 |
| 10 | CC Distributors | $10,000 |
| 10 | FedEx Corp | $10,000 |
| 10 | Koch Industries | $10,000 |
| 10 | Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn | $10,000 |
| 10 | National Assn of Home Builders | $10,000 |
| 10 | National Assn of Realtors | $10,000 |
| 10 | National Beer Wholesalers Assn | $10,000 |
| 10 | Operating Engineers Union | $10,000 |
| 10 | Outback Steakhouse | $10,000 |
| 10 | United Parcel Service | $10,000 |
As reported at www.opensecrets.org
originally postedat 3.18.07
2 comments:
do you know if they were flying him around on the Tigers/Red Wings team plane or on the Ilitch Gulfstream?
You can find more information about the various Ilitch aircraft used to transport politicians around in various posts at http://www.theverifiabletruth.com/search/label/Ilitch%20Airplanes
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