Discrepancies in Ilitch contributions to President Bush's 2004 re-election committee

TVT has discovered discrepancies in federal campaign contributions made to President Bush's 2004 re-election committee by the Ilitch Family and an associate.

These contributions were made for the 2004 election cycle to President George W. Bush's re-election committee on June 30 & 31, 2003 by Ilitch Family members and their associate Michael J. Malik, Sr.

All five of them provided the address for Ilitch Holdings, Inc. as required under federal election disclosure laws but none of them lists "Ilitch Holdings, Inc." as their "employer."

Name, Occupation, Employer	Contribution	Address
MR. JIM SCALICI CONTRACTOR AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERS	George W. Bush $2,000	2211 WOODWARD Ave DETROIT, MI 48201
MR. MICHAEL J MALIK, SR. OWNER SELF-EMPLOYED	George W. Bush $2,000	2211 WOODWARD Ave DETROIT, MI 48201
MR. MICHAEL ILITCH EXECUTIVE LITTLE CAESERS ENTERPRISE, INC.	George W. Bush $2,000	2211 WOODWARD Ave DETROIT, MI 48201
MRS. MARIAN ILITCH HOMEMAKER	George W. Bush $2,000	2211 WOODWARD Ave DETROIT, MI 48201
MS. DENISE ILITCH BUSINESSWOMAN SELF-EMPLOYED	George W. Bush $2,000	2211 WOODWARD Ave DETROIT, MI 48201

Scalici is Denise Ilitch's husband. While not an Ilitch Holdings, Inc. executive the address he provides is the Ilitch Holdings, Inc. headquarters not the offices of American Construction Engineers, LLC; raising questions about who really wrote or authorized the $2,000 check on his behalf.

During the same 2004 election cycle, Michael Malik reported to 18 other campaign committees that he was an executive at Ilitch Holdings, Inc. but not to the President's re-election committee.

Mike Ilitch is chairman of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.

Marian Ilitch plays games by listing her occupation as "homemaker" although she's vice chairwoman of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. and holds other corporate titles for various Ilitch Holdings subsidiaries. At the time Marian owned 25% of MotorCity Casino and was on the management committee. Rather than list the homemaker's "home address," she provides the President Bush's fundraising committee with the corporate address for Ilitch Holdings, Inc.

Denise Ilitch at the time was co-president of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. sharing the title with her brother Christopher Ilitch, also a donor along with his wife Kelle Ilitch to President Bush's committee on the same day(s) but listing his home address in Birmingham, MI 48009 rather than the Ilitch Holdings, Inc. corporate headquarters in the Fox Theater Office Building as the other five had. Christopher Ilitch indicates he's an "Ilitch Holdings/Executive." One week earlier (6.23.03) FEC records indicate Denise Ilitch gave $1,000 to Kilpatrick for United States Congress, listed her employer/occupation as "Ilitch Holdings, Inc./President." She disclosed she was an executive at Ilitch Holdings when she made a $1,000 contribution to Candice Miller for Congress on 4.18.03 as well.

Sources: these records were first reviewed at http://www.googlerace.com/ and confirmed using FEC records and Web resources available at www.politcalmoneyline.com and www.opensecrets.org.

FEC Should look into why it is Marian Ilitch mascarades as a "Homemaker"

Among Senator Carl Levin's contributions from individuals whose employer/occupation is "N/A/HOMEMAKER":

18. ILITCH, MARIAN

3/30/2007 - $2,300.00
DETROIT, MI 48201
N/A / HOMEMAKER
[Contribution Record]
Transaction itemized by: FRIENDS OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN

19. ILITCH, MARIAN

3/30/2007 - $2,300.00
DETROIT, MI 48201
N/A / HOMEMAKER
[Contribution Record]
Transaction itemized by: FRIENDS OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN

Why in the world would Mrs. Marian Ilitch who along with here husband Mike Ilitch is co-owner of a $1.5 billion empire list herself as "homemaker" when she makes political contributions? Is it to avoid the amount of money totaling from Ilitch Holdings executives? This "homemaker" is same Marian Ilitch who is:

• vice chairwoman of Ilitch Holdings, Inc;


• co-founder of Little Caesars Pizza;


• co-owner of the Detroit Red Wings; and


• sole owner of Detroit's $1.1 billion MotorCity Casino.

You may want to review these posts:

• Marian Ilitch's various federal campaign contributions
• Do these people really believe Marian Ilitch is a "homemaker" or are they playing along with the game

"Candice Miller for Congress" failed to provide appropriate donor records for near-anonymous casino related contributions

March 11, 2003 was the second biggest fundraising day of Rep. Candice Miller's first term in the House of Representatives.

On March 11, 2003 -- less than one month after freshman Rep. Candice Miller introduced a bill (H.R. 831) in the House of Representatives (she was backed by veteran Alaska Rep. Don Young) intended to win approval for a Bay Mills Indian Community off-reservation casino proposal in Port Huron, Michigan -- backers of the Bay Mills casino plan and their associates helped contribute $38,800 to Rep. Miller's campaign fund (30 contributions in all).

Among the contributors: casino syndicator Michael J. Malik, Sr. and his alleged mistress Heather Lufkins; Marian Ilitch, Mike Ilitch, Christopher Ilitch; various attorneys from Ilitch/Malik law firms like Dykema Gossett and Miller Canfield; political consultants and lobbyists; plus insurance brokers, property managers and others involved with various Ilitch/Malik businesses and casino operations (Complete List).

And these three odd contributions that have little or no back-up provided to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) but which nevertheless were deposited in the "Candice Miller for Congress" bank account.

24 .	Menomenee, Kate
	3/11/2003	$1,000.00
	,
		[Contribution]
	Transaction itemized by: CANDICE MILLER FOR CONGRESS
[View Image]

politicalmoneyline.com

25 .	Menomenee, Mary
	3/11/2003	$1,000.00
	,
		[Contribution]
	Transaction itemized by: CANDICE MILLER FOR CONGRESS
[View Image]

politicalmoneyline.com

26 .	Menomenee, Yvonne
	3/11/2003	$1,000.00
	,
		[Contribution]
	Transaction itemized by: CANDICE MILLER FOR CONGRESS
[View Image]

politicalmoneyline.com

Rep. Miller, a former Michigan Secretary of State knows better than to deposit funds from near anonymous donors. These three donors have no history of giving to federal political committees before or after these 3/11/03 recorded contributions to Rep. Miller.

Rep. Miller's committees (Primarily CANDICE PAC) received more than $74,000 from the Ilitch Family and Michael Malik between 2003 and 2005.

CANDICE PAC = Conservative American Network Delivering Increased Congressional Excellence Political Action Committee

You may wish to review these related posts or click on the labels below:

• GOP Congresswoman received at least $74,000 in bundled funds from Ilitch Family sources after introducing bill for syndicator-backed Indian casino
• UPDATED: Donor's alleged mistress also gave $10,000 to two of his favorite candidates -- Rep. Candice Miller & Sen. Debbie Stabenow
• Ilitch administrative aide gives $5000 to Rep. Candice Miller
• Casino backers deny thousands in contributions intended to influence U.S. Senator
• Do these people really believe Marian Ilitch is a "homemaker" or are they playing along with the game
• Michigan’s Political Ménage à Trois
• Publicist shines spotlight on Senator Stabenow & Rep. Miller after his clients invested $200,000 in their campaigns
• 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

Resource: PoliticalMoneyLine.com for Congressional Quarterly

Rep. Renzi's committee, donor may have falsified disclosure records

According to documents filed with the Federal Elections Commission, “Renzi for Congress” the campaign committee of now embattled Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) recorded a contribution of $1,000 on March 31, 2003 from:

Michael J. Malik
Wayne County / Probate Judge
38715 Meadowlawn
Wayne, Michigan 48184

As it turns out:

• There isn’t a Michael J. Malik serving currently as a Probate Judge in Wayne County.
• A search of records for a "Michael J. Malik," "Wayne County Probate Judge" at any time previous returns nothing.
• A search for "Michael J. Malik," "Probate Judge" comes up empty as well.
• According to the Wayne County Registry of Deeds, the property at 38715 Meadowlawn appears to have been owned by Milton L. Mack, Jr. and at least one eventual wife since at least 1988.
• Mack is an attorney and Chief Judge of the Wayne County Probate Court.
• Judge Mack has contributed to federal political committees but only those affiliated with the Democratic Party exclusively:

Date	Amount	Recipient
3/21/1996	$250	Michigan Democratic State Central Cmte
3/14/1997	$300	Michigan Democratic State Central Cmte
9/29/2000	$250	Michigan Democratic State Central Cmte
3/22/2002	$250	Marlinga, Carl J
5/7/2003	$300	Michigan Democratic State Central Cmte
7/7/2004	$1,000	Kerry, John

So who did contribute $1,000 to Rep. Rick Renzi:

• Judge Mack a loyal Democrat who’s contributed $7,650 throughout his lifetime or was it


• Michael J. Malik also of Michigan, a Republican who has contributed at least $198,197 in just the last four years to federal candidates and campaign committees of both parties, across the country; including Rep. Richard Pombo, Rep. Jerry Lewis, Rep. Don Young, Rep Candice Miller, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Debbie Stabenow among others.
  
  It's noted that from March 19 through March 31, 2003, Michael J. Malik made at least 10 contributions totaling $ 14,000; all to GOP freshmen Members of Congress, most of whom were facing competitive campaigns in 2004 (Rep. Rick Renzi generally would fit that model).
  

Date	Amount	Recipient
3/19/2003	$1,000	Burns, Max
3/19/2003	$5,000	CANDICE PAC (Miller, Candice)
3/25/2003	$1,000	Chocola, Chris
3/25/2003	$1,000	Chocola, Chris
3/25/2003	$1,000	Chocola, Chris
3/27/2003	$1,000	Gingrey, Phil
3/29/2003	$1,000	Beauprez, Bob
3/29/2003	$1,000	Gerlach, Jim
3/31/2003	$1,000	Brown-Waite, Ginny
3/31/2003	$1,000	Renzi, Rick
3/31/2003	$1,000	Rogers, Mike

How is it that a contribution filed by a GOP Member of Congress from Arizona might get two quite different men from Michigan, Mr. Malik and Judge Mack, confused; after all, don’t the donors submit their own disclosure details when they deliver checks to the respective campaigns?

• For more on Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) and others see: Arizona Congress Watch, & its Renzi roundup
• Official House of Representative website: Rep. Rick Renzi (AZ-1st)
• Congress.org: Rep Rick Renzi #274th Powerful Member
• PoliticalMoneyLine.com for Congressional Quarterly: Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ 1st)

You may want to click on the labels below or review these additional posts:

• Casino syndicator tied to Ripon...promoted Homeland Security...boondoggle to Ireland
• A Case of Abramoff-Lite: Pombo was doing favors for his Motor City Casino friends
• UPDATED: Lobbyist paid $665,000, secretly representing Ilitch syndication interests
• You can tell a lot about a Capitol Hill lobbyist by the company they keep
• Family Affair: Members of Congress pay family members with political funds
• Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) steals one from Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) playbook
• Doolittle committee disclosure falsely reported young rookie lobbyist...as “retired”
• FPPC Enforcement Decisions: Casino syndicator's Major Donor violations revealed
• PR firm for Ilitch Holdings & Casinos loaned to Rep. Candice Miller’s re-election...
• CREW - Official 13 count Ethics Complaint Includes Motor City Casino Syndicators
• Ilitch Family, associate increased political campaign contributions 2000% in four...
• Port Huron Casino backers help raise nearly $100,000 for Sen. Carl Levin
• Do these people really believe Marian Ilitch is a "homemaker" or ...
• Rep. Young (R-AK) flying around in Detroit Casino Developers' private jet

Why did Sen. Carl Levin's political committee return $4,600 from Mike Ilitch?

Why did Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) refuse Mike Ilitch's campaign contributions? Or why did Ilitch ask for his money back?

On March 30, 2007 records on file with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) -- and available for inspection via PoliticalMoneyLine.com -- indicate that Mike Ilitch wrote two checks totaling $4,600 ($2,600 each) to Friends of Carl Levin.

Ilitch is the founder of Little Caesar's Pizza and owner of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers.

Ilitch's wife Marian, owner of Detroit's MotorCity Casino, and his son Christopher Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., also wrote two $2,600 checks each to the Levin political committee on 3/30/07.

In all, the Ilitch Family contributed $13,800 to Levin on 3/30. With the help of their friends and business associates (people like Michael J. Malik Sr., James Acheson, Richard Alcalde, Douglas Austin, Matt Cullen, Lance Boldrey, Joseph Ehrlich, Sarah Feliz, Mary Fletcher, Larry Hudas, Samuel Lionel, Timothy Stoepker, Victor Ventimiglia Jr., R. Thomas Vigliotti, Alan Wheat and others), the Ilitch Family helped Senator Levin raise nearly $97,000 that day.

So why did Senator Levin refuse to accept Mike Ilitch's contributions? Or did Mike Ilitch ask for his money back?

Additional records filed with the FEC indicate that on March 31, 2007, Friends of Carl Levin returned Mike Ilitch's two $2,600 contributions but not the checks from Marian Ilitch nor Christopher Ilitch.

Since 2004, two dozen Members of Congress spent $5 million from campaign contributions on legal defense

5.17.07

Campaign funds going to legal fees

By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY

Two dozen current and former members of Congress caught up in criminal investigations or ethics inquiries spent more than $5 million in campaign funds on legal fees during the last 27 months covered by campaign-finance records.

The spending reflects a spate of scandals that were a factor in the Democratic takeover of Congress last year and, for some lawmakers, remain a problem. Eight current members have been publicly identified as being under investigation.

While campaign donations may not be spent for personal use, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has ruled that fighting to stay out of jail is a legitimate political activity as long as the allegations of wrongdoing relate to conduct in office.

The biggest spender still in Congress is Rep. Jerry Lewis of California, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, records show. His campaign paid $905,800 to law firms in the last two-year campaign cycle and the first three months of this year, records show. The Justice Department has been investigating his relationships with lobbyists and companies.

Lewis' office did not respond to phone messages.

Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., whose house recently was searched by the FBI, spent $149,200 during that 27-month period. Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., whose wife's insurance business also was searched by federal agents recently, paid $101,800.

Renzi, under scrutiny for a land deal, said he has been the victim of "leaked stories, conjecture and false attacks." Doolittle, whose wife consulted for convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, proclaimed his innocence and criticized the search.

"Since you've started to see the Justice Department become much more active, the members have sought serious legal help," said Kent Cooper, of PoliticalMoneyLine, a non-partisan group that tracks money in politics.

Among Democrats, Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who declined to comment, spent $91,900 from December through March. Federal investigators have been looking into a real estate deal.

Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., under investigation over bribery allegations, has a separate legal defense fund governed by House rules that has raised $136,000, according to the latest filing.

Even those who have left Congress are allowed to use their campaign funds to pay legal bills, according to the FEC.

Former congressman Mark Foley, R-Fla, who left in September after it emerged that he had been making sexual advances to congressional pages, paid his lawyers $253,768 from his campaign fund since December, FEC records show.

Campaigns don't have to disclose the specific purpose of legal payments, so it's not always possible to distinguish standard legal bills from criminal defense fees. But routine election compliance typically costs no more than $12,000 a year, said attorney Karl Sandstrom, a former FEC vice chairman who advises campaigns on compliance issues.

Port Huron Casino backers help raise nearly $100,000 for Sen. Carl Levin

Yet further research of Federal Election Commission (FEC) disclosures and resources availabe from PoliticalMoneyLine.com now indicates the backers of a proposal to build an off-reservation Indian casino in Port Huron, MI did more than contribute $18,400 to the political committee of Senator Carl Levin on March 30, 2007; it appears that Michael J. Malik Sr. and Detroit's Ilitch Family (Mike & Marian Ilitch and son Christopher Ilitch) were involved in hosting a fundraiser for Sen. Levin on a day when Sen. Levin brought in nearly $100,000.00 in political contributions.

In reports filed by Levin with the FEC, Malik and the Ilitch Family plus a number of their contract attorneys, lobbyists, consultants, service providers, Port Huron business partners, food supliers, vendors and employees' family members wrote to checks to Sen. Levin on March 30 -- on that one day, Sen. Levin reports receiving 105 checks totaling $96,910.00.

It all appears to be tied to backers of the Bay Mills Indian Community's Port Huron Casino proposal.



Click to see 3/30/07 Donor List

You may also want to review these posts...
--Port Huron :

• Contributions to Levin raise questions over casino, contributors deny trying to win support

--The Verifiable Truth:

• Do these people really believe Marian Ilitch is a "homemaker" or are they playing along with the game
• Various properties controlled by the current owners of the Thomas Edison Inn
• The Bay Mills Land Claims Case Was a Scam from the Start
• Desperate for third casino; Tribe & its developer condemn Abramoff, but try to slip own approvals through Congress "under the radar"
• Bay Mills Indian Casino backers behind first fundraiser for Rep. Candice Miller
• Senator 113k. Rep 75k. Getting to build a casino, PRICELESS
• Publicist shines spotlight on Senator Stabenow & Rep. Miller after his clients invested $200,000 in their campaigns


• Sen Stabenow restates her support for third Bay Mills casino, after Ilitch Family contributes $114,000 toward her re-election

Vice Chairwoman of a private company Forbes ranks at #316 reports she's a "homemaker" on political disclosures

Half of the 32 records on file with the Federal Election Commission backing up political campaign contributions made by Marian Ilitch since 2002 indicate she is simply a “Homemaker.”

Those records make no reference to Ilitch Holdings, Inc., MotorCity Casino nor any of her other business affiliations past or present (Little Caesars Pizza, Detroit Red Wings, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Detroit Tigers, etc.).

In March 2007 the National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Detroit Chapter honored Marian Ilitch as one of the Top 10 Michigan Business Women with the Pinnacle Award.

At IlitchHoldings.com, the corporate website for Ilitch Holdings, Inc., Marian Ilitch is described as “Vice Chairwoman.”

The website reads:

“Marian Ilitch is one of the leading entrepreneurs in the food and entertainment industry. As a first-generation American, the daughter of Macedonian immigrants raised on grit and hard work, Marian has been recognized as one of the most successful businesswomen in the country.”

“Marian purchased the MotorCity Casino in Detroit in April 2005. MotorCity Casino opened in December 1999 and the purchase by Marian keeps the casino ownership within the Detroit Community and makes Motor City Casino the largest and most successful casino in the country that is owned by a woman.”

Nothing on the corporate website describes her as a “homemaker” ... far from it.

This kind of deliberate dishonesty in campaign contribution disclosures is a clear sign there is something greater afoot.

You may also want to review these posts:

• Do these people really believe Marian Ilitch is a "homemaker" or are they playing along with the game
• So-called "Homemaker" Marian Ilitch was inducted into Michigan Women's Hall of Fame as a Business Leader
• Discrepancies in Ilitch contributions to President Bush's 2004 re-election committee
• FEC Should look into why it is Marian Ilitch mascarades as a "Homemaker"
• Casino backers deny thousands in contributions intended to influence U.S. Senator
  Publicist shines spotlight on Senator Stabenow & Rep. Miller after his clients invested $200,000 in their campaigns
• Michigan’s Political Ménage à Trois

UPDATE: Malik & Ilitch Family attempting to romance Senator Carl Levin up their anti doling out $18,400 on one day

UPDATE #1 to: Casino Developer attempts to romance Senator Levin

Records newly available from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) now indicate that in addition to the largest contributions developer and casino syndicator Michael J. Malik, Sr. gave to U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) on March 30th; Malik's casino syndication co-horts, members of Detroit's Ilitch Family, also made the maximum contributions allowable by law to Senator Levin on the same day. Their checks to Senator Levin's political campaign total $18,400. Before now, this group had only one member of this group had given $500 to Senator Levin and that was back on 3/31/02.

It has been reported that Malik was told by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) that he must win favor with Senator Levin if Malik and the Ilitch's are to win approvals for an Indian Casino they want to see built in Port Huron, MI. Stabenow had introduced legislation, S. 2986, in 2002 to, by Act of Congress, approve the proposal that would allow the Bay Mills Indian Community to develop a Port Huron Casino resort hundreds of miles from their reservation.

News accounts suggest Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) blocked that 2002 bill. It never made it out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Subsequently Malik & the Ilitch Family contributed $22,000 to Reid's political committees. They also directed more than $117,000 toward Stabenow's 2006 re-election.

Michael J. Malik, Sr.
DETROIT, MI 48201
SELF/DEVELOPER
LEVIN, CARL VIA FRIENDS OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN
03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120429
03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120429

Christopher Ilitch
BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009
ILITCH HOLDINGS/PRESIDENT AND CEO
LEVIN, CARL VIA FRIENDS OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN
03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120379
03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120379

Marian Ilitch
DETROIT, MI 48201
N/A/HOMEMAKER (??? How 'bout "Owner, MotorCity Casino" or "Owner/Vice Chair, Ilitch Holdings, Inc.")
LEVIN, CARL VIA FRIENDS OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN
03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120379
03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120380

Michael Ilitch
DETROIT, MI 48201
ILITCH HOLDINGS INC/OWNER
LEVIN, CARL VIA FRIENDS OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN
03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120380
03/30/2007 - $2,300.00 - 27020120380

PoliticalMoneyLine: Rep. Don Young pays Akin Gump $25,000 & gets $100,000 GOP refund

as posted at PoliticalMoneyLine:

Rep. Don Young & Legal Fees & $100,000
04.15.07

Rep. Don Young reported paying $25,000 to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer for legal services in the first quarter of 2007. The committee also received $100,000 "refund" from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)

PoliticalMoneyLine also reports that Michael J. Malik, Sr. contributed $10,000 to the NRCC during the first quarter of 2007 (2/28/07).

PoliticalMoneyLine: Rep. Doolittle pays legal bills, payments to his wife with campaign contributions

posted at PoliticalMoneyLine:

04.16.07
Doolittle Legal Fees

John T. Doolittle for Congress reported paying Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP $13,516 in legal fees during the first quarter of 2007. The committee paid Mrs. Julie Doolittle's firm, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions, $10,500 for “fundraising fee.”

PoliticalMoneyLine: Rep. Jerry Lewis pays legal bills and taxes with political campaign money

posted at PoliticalMoneyLine:

Lewis Pays $12K in Legal Fees and $136K in Taxes
04.16.07

Rep. Jerry Lewis reported paying $11,806 for legal services in the first quarter 2007, including $$10,306 to Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP and $1,500 to Blank Rome LLP. The committee paid $108,190 in federal taxes and $28,677 in state taxes. The committee has $936,962 in cash on hand.

Capitol Alert - hear Rep. John Doolittle's meeting with the Sac Bee editorial board

posted this afternoon by Shane Goldmacher at The Sacramento Bee's CapitolAlert

Rep. John Doolittle at the Bee editorial board

By Shane Goldmacher
Published 2:42 pm PDT Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Rep. John Doolittle sat down with the Sacramento Bee editorial board on April 11, just two days before the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided his Virginia home, executing a search warrant for materials related to Julie Doolittle's company, Sierra Dominion Financial Services.

Hear the full interview with Doolittle, a Roseville, Calif., Republican, at Capitol Alert.

A video excerpt of the interview can be found here.

Michigan’s Political Ménage à Trois

What do casino maven Marian Ilitch and Michigan Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-10^th) have in common?

The two powerful Michigan women share the same guy (political guru). (He’s attempted to deny the connection and says the only thing they have in common is their blonde hair color).

Tom Shields, GOP political/PR/advertising guy and the founder of Lansing, Michigan based Marketing Resource Group is:

• spokesman for Ilitch Holdings, Inc. and its various affiliates as well as for various casino syndications backed by Marian Ilitch in NY, MI & CA; and

• senior political and advertising consultant in the last two of three congressional campaigns for Rep. Candice Miller.

Shields & Illitch

Shields has worked with Marian Ilitch and her family for more than a decade, dating back to the 1996 statewide ballot measure that narrowly approved three commercial casinos in Detroit (GreekTown, MotorCity Casino and MGM Grand Detroit). Originally backed by money from Circus Circus (Mandalay Resort Group); now, it is said, Marian is the sole owner of MotorCity Casino. And her family owns, Little Caesars Pizza, Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings.

Shields & Miller

Shields wasn’t part of the team that got Candice Miller originally elected to Congress, but after she introduced a bill to get an Ilitch backed casino approved by Act of Congress, Shields replaced Miller’s primary political advertising consultant, at a fraction of their costs (19%), in Rep. Miller’s subsequent re-election campaigns.

Shields & Ilitch & Miller

The Ilitch Family didn’t back Rep. Miller’s first congressional campaign but after she introduced their casino bill they were gungho for Miller. A month after Miller introduced the casino bill (two months into her first congressional term), the Ilitch Family publicly joined the Miller bandwagon and put together one of the biggest fundraising days of Rep. Miller’s first two years in Congress (Shields hopped aboard and wrote a $1,000 check that day too). Since Rep. Miller introduced their casino bill, Marian Ilitch (her partner Michael J. Malik, Sr.) and her family have contributed $75,000 to Rep. Miller’s political committees.

TOM SHIELDS Marketing Resource Group, Inc. Lansing, Michigan

CASINO & ILITCH AFFILIATED CLIENT LIST

Atwater Casino Group

Atwater Entertainment Group

BarWest Gaming, L.L.C.

Bay Mills Indian Community

Big Lagoon Rancheria

re-elect Candice Miller for Congress

Circus Circus Michigan

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Tigers

Four Winds Casino

Gateway Casino Resorts, L.L.C.

Hawaii Entertainment L.L.C.

Ilitch Holdings, Inc.

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians

MotorCity Casino

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians

Port Huron/Thomas Edison Inn Casino

(1996) Proposal E – allow 3 Casinos in Detroit

(2004) Proposal 1 – Prohibit future gaming expansion in MI

Renegade Charters L.L.C.

Shinnecock Indian Nation

partial list

More:

Tom Shields

Marian Ilitch

Candice Miller

PR firm for Ilitch Holdings & Casinos loaned to Rep. Candice Miller’s re-election campaigns

A Lansing-based GOP public relations/political consulting firm primarily representing entities controlled by Mike & Marian Ilitch or their casino syndication partner Michael J. Malik, Sr. has handled advertising and political consulting duties for Rep. Candice Miller’s (R-MI) last two re-election campaigns at a fraction of the costs her campaign paid for the same services the first time she was elected to the House of Representatives (2002).

CANDICE S. MILLER (R-MI)
Expenditures

2002 Election Cycle

Recipient	Amount	Date	Description
William Eisner Associates, Inc. Hales Corners, WI	$952,058	2002	Radio/Cable TV Commercials

2003-2004 Re-election Cycle

Recipient	Amount	Date	Description
Marketing Resource Group, Inc.	$94,419	9/29/2004	CAMPAIGN RADIO BUY
Marketing Resource Group, Inc., Lansing, MI	$18,995	10/4/2004	CAMPAIGN RADIO BUY
Marketing Resource Group, Inc., Lansing, MI	$15,000	10/19/2004	RADIO ADDS
Marketing Resource Group, Inc., Lansing, MI	$1,925	11/9/2004	MILLER & VIVIANO ADDS
Marketing Resource Group, Inc., Lansing, MI	$340	10/20/2004	MILLER ADS
	$130,679	(14%)

2005-2006 Re-election Cycle

Recipient	Amount	Date	Description
Marketing Resource Group, Inc,	$177,230	9/9/2006	CAMPAIGN RADIO AD BUY
Marketing Resource Group, Inc, Lansing, MI	$1,070	11/6/2006	RADIO ADS
Marketing Resource Group, Inc, Lansing, MI	$352	10/27/2006	DESIGN Svcs/Production
	$178,652	(19%)

Background

Tom Shields’ Marketing Resource Group, Inc. does a substantial percentage of business with entities owned or controlled by Mike Ilitch and Marian Ilitch, and also Michael J. Malik Sr. (MRG Client List). He represents nearly all the Indian Tribes and casinos in which Ilitch/Malik have interests. He frequently provides pro bono or discounted services to community groups and those who can help him advance his clients’ agenda.

In her first race (2002) for Congress, then-Michigan Secretary of State Candice Miller paid close to $1 million for advertising and consulting to William Eisner Associates, Inc. Records do not indicate MRG or Shields were part of her first Congressional Campaign. The first campaign was not supported in any significant financial way by the Ilitch Family or Malik.

Miller pushes Ilitch/Malik backed Casino

Then on February 13, 2003, freshman Rep. Miller introduced a bill, H.R. 831, to push approvals for a Port Huron Indian casino through Congress. The casino proposal has been backed by Detroit casino syndicators Malik and Mrs. Marian Ilitch for nearly a decade. They have a core team of lawyers and public relations people that work with them on these various projects, among them are Dykema Gossett PLLC (Lansing & Detroit) and Marketing Resource Group, Inc. (Lansing).

Ilitch/Malik contribute $75,000 to Miller

March 11, 2003 the Ilitch Family, Malik, Shields and several associates contribute $25,500 to Rep. Miller’s campaign committee making 3/11/03 the second biggest fundraising day of Miller’s first two year term in Congress. By the end of 2006, Federal Election Commission records indicate the Ilitch Family and Malik alone had contributed $75,000 to Rep. Miller’s committees.

Ilitch PR Boss takes over Miller campaign duties

When it came time to seek re-election to Congress in 2004 & 2006, Rep. Miller apparently abandoned the advertising and political consulting firm that helped elect her to a first term in Congress and began working with the same firm behind many Ilitch ventures, Marketing Resource Group, Inc., a firm founded by Tom Shields. Shields is often spokesman for the Ilitch Family and their various business affiliates and Indian tribe partners. Shields’ firm charged Rep. Miller a fraction of the costs her campaign spent in 2002.

It is unclear whether or not Shields/Marketing Resource Group was compensated for creative, consulting and management services to Rep. Miller’s campaign or if the work was done free of charge for Miller. Perhaps Shields’ services to Rep Miller were “free” or at greatly discounted costs because it appears that MRG only billed Miller’s campaign for the actual costs of purchasing the air time for advertising.

Rep. Young (R-AK) flying around in Detroit Casino Developers' private jet

* * UPDATED with TWO ADDITIONAL PLANE FLIGHTS 3/19/2007 * *

Alaska Representative Don Young, then Chair of the House Transportation Committee, was apparently flying around on someone's private jet or a jet they had chartered for private travel. Based on FEC records available through PoliticalMoneyLine for Congressional Quarterly, apparently Barwest LLC orginally picked up the air travel tab. And then subsequently it appears the same parties may have fronted costs for two additional flights using other names.

Barwest LLC is primarily a casino development and management syndication. Barwest LLC was fined in October 2006 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission on two counts of failing to report a contribution of $26,600 to Rep. Richard Pombo's County GOP Committee.

It is unclear for the various flights what the itninerary or purpose was or who else was on the plane; but for the Barwest LLC fronted travel there are several other Las Vegas-related travel and lodging expenses logged by the Congressman on the same day. For the Malik fronted air travel there was a corresponding charge to The Homestead resort in Hot Springs, VA. Corporate Flight charter service is based at the Oakland County Airport frequently used by Malik.

DON YOUNG (R-AK)
Expenditures

2005-2006 Cycle

Recipient	Amount	Date	Description
Barwest LLC, Detroit, MI	$5,817	1/25/2005	AIR TRAVEL
Corporate Flight, Waterford, MI	$3,422	2/17/2005	AIR TRAVEL
Malik, Michael, Detroit, MI	$3,978	10/07/2005	AIR TRAVEL

FEC statement filed 4/12/2005, Page 191, Item C; and Page 197, Item A.

FEC Statement filed 1/25/2006, Page 84, Item A.

Barwest LLC principals are Mrs. Marian Ilitch and Michael J. Malik, Sr. (Michael Malik). Barwest LLC is Detroit-based but its primary business is in California. Barwest LLC seeks to build twin Indian casinos in Barstow, California; that would anchor a larger commercial mega resort area. Barwest LLC has the exclusive rights to develop and manage the proposed casinos and resort projects which still need various state and federal approvals.

Ilitch and Malik are also bankrolling other off-reservation casino proposals in Michigan (Port Huron) and New York (Southampton/Shinnecock Hills).

Congress.org ranks Rep. Young as the most powerful Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee which oversees Indian gaming matters. He is former chairman of the committee having served prior to Rep. Richard Pombo who took the reins in 2003.

Rep. Young was then powerful chair of the House Transportation Committee. The various casinos backed by Ilitch and Malik require various transportation and highway improvements. But more significantly the backers of the Bay Mills Indian Tribe's proposed Port Huron casino had secretly slipped approvals for the project into a transportation spending bill but opponents in Congress caught the move and extracted it from the bill.

The Ilitch Family and Malik have previously contributed at least $16,000 to Rep. Young's campaign committee and thousands more to various national GOP committees with which Young is likely affiliated or a beneficiary. Further, they contributed $21,000 to Rep. Mark Kennedy's (R-MN) failed campaign for the U.S. Senate. Kennedy was a member of the transportation Committee and one of Rep. Young's allies.

Ilitch Holdings, including Malik, ranked as one of Young's top 5 donors for the two-year 2006 campaign cycle. Mike and Marian Ilitch are the co-founders of Little Caesars Pizza and own the Detroit Red Wings. The family also owns the Detroit Tigers and purchased Detroit's MotorCity Casino from Mandalay Resort Group/MGM Mirage in 2005.

you may want to review these posts:

• Casino Developer who fronted travel & entertainment costs for Rep. Don Young (R-AK) did the same for former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA)
• Members of Congress aren't the only elected officials flying around in the private aircraft of Detroit casino syndicators