Michael J. Malik, Sr., a Detroit-based developer and casino syndicator, had never contributed to the campaign fund of Michigan's U.S. Senator Carl Levin, a man with a nearly 30-year history in Congress; although the 53-year-old Malik has lived a lifetime in Michigan and has been politically involved for years ...that is, Until Now.
On March 30, 2007 Malik made two contributions to the campaign committee of Senator Carl Levin; both for the maximum amounts allowable under federal campaign laws.
LEVIN, CARL VIA FRIENDS OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN
- 03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120429
- 03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120429
Michgan's other U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) and local Congresswoman Candice Miller (R) have both championed approvals of Malik's plan since 2003; around the same time Malik and his partners, Mike & Marian Ilitch and their children, made their first significant contributions to the ladies. Although both Stabenow and Miller had made careers in Michigan politics before they were elected to their current congressional seats, Malik and partners didn't have a track record supporting either lady.
With the shift of power in Congress in 2007, it has been reported that Malik came to understand, he was going to need Senator Levin's active support if he wanted to move approvals for his casino scheme through the congressional process.
Press reports suggest that now-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had blocked progress of Malik's plans in 2003. In January Malik's press agent told the Port Huron Times Herald that Reid had indicated he would not block the plans any longer. Since 2003, Malik and his partners have given $22,000 to Senator Reid's various political committees. However, Reid has strongly re-emphasized in public his blanket objections to "reservation-shopping" and "off-reservation" casinos since that Times Herald story appeared.
The congressional watch-dog group Congress.org ranks Senator Reid obviously as the most powerful member of the U.S. Senate and now ranks Senator Levin as #8, previously he was ranked #29.
The shift in control of the Senate has Stabenow's power ranking at #42 and she ranks as #32 out of 49 Democrats in the Senate -- not a lot of political juice for such a controversial proposal -- and Miller dropped to #401 in the House of Representatives.
Malik and his partners directed more than $117,00o toward Stabenow's 2006 re-election; and more than $75,000 to Rep. Miller after each introduced legislation to advance approvals for Malik's casino plans; but nothing to Levin until now.
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