Sunday, November 09, 2008

Detroit Tigers registered as Lansing Lobbyist but don't report Expenses

Detroit Tigers, Inc. is one of just two affiliates of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. to be registered to undertake lobbying activity in Michigan’s State Capitol. But the MLB franchise hasn't reported any lobbying expenses since 2003.

Stephen J. Quinn, Tigers’ VP Finance & Administration and CFO, is recorded as the lobbyist’s signatory. They have reported no additional lobbying expenses since 2003.

The Detroit Tigers report employing two lobbying/law firms as their lobbying agents in Lansing: James H. Karoub Associates and Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Assoc.; they are ranked #2 and #6 respectively among Michigan’s Top 200 Lobbying Firms.

Detroit Entertainment LLC, the company that owns MotorCity Casino is the other Ilitch Holdings, Inc. affiliate registered to lobby in Lansing.

The Detroit Lions (NFL) are registered to lobby and the last two years they report spending a total of $6,375 in additional lobbying expenses. They employ Public Affairs Associates Inc. (ranked #4) as their lobbyist agent.

Palace Sports and Entertainment, affiliated with the Detroit Pistons (NBA), is registered to lobby in Lansing and reports additional lobbying expenses of $14,437.94 the last two years. They employ the Kelly Cawthorne firm (ranked #9) as lobbyist agents.

In 2007, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and others in Lansing were considering a “luxury tax” which would have added a 6% charge on tickets to sporting events and concerts. It was reported that the normally competitive owners of sports team like Bill Davidson and Mike Ilitch had come together to block the proposal. They organized a so-called grassroots organization, “Fans Against the Ticket Tax,” and set up a Web site, notickettax.com. It’s unclear what additional lobbying activity was waged in Lansing and if so, what expenses were reported and by whom.

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certainly must reads!

Ilitch has backed loosing sports teams and pizza, but casinos in Detroit? Forbes.com 10.09.06 ● Marian Ilitch #1 on "25 Most Powerful People" to Watch 2006” global gaming business o1.oo.o5 ● My Kingdom for a Casino Forbes 05.08.06 ● Big Lagoon’s casino dream awakens north coast journal 07.28.05 ● Shinnecocks launch legal claim to Hamptons land newsday.com 06.16.05 ● Ilitch Plans to Expand Casino Empire RGTonline.com 07.05.05 ● Ilitch outbids partners MichiganDaily.com 04.14.05 ● Ilitch enmeshed in NY casino dispute detnews.com 03.20.05 ● Marian Ilitch, high roller freep.com 03.20.05 ● MGM Mirage to Decide on Offer for Casino in Detroit rgtonline.com 04.16.05 ● Secret deal for MotorCity alleged freep.com 02.15.05 ● Los Coyotes get new developer desertdispatch.com 02.08.05 Detroit casino figure to finance Barstow project LasVegasSun.com 07.07.03 ● Indian Band trying to put casino in Barstow signonSanDiego.com 06.04.03 Pizza matriarch takes on casino roles detnews.com 10.23.02 ● Vanderbilt gets short straw in negotiations for a casino Lansing Journal 10.06.02 ● Indians aim to drive family from tribe in vicious dispute san diego union tribune 04.09.00 ●Malik owns 2000 Michigan Quarter Horse of the Year Michigan.gov 01.01.00 ● Detroit Team to run Michigan’s newest Indian casino detnews.com 05.23.99 Tiger ties tangle Marian Ilitch detnews.com 04.29.99 ● Three investors must sell their Detroit casino interests gamblingmagazine.com 04.25.99 ● Partners’ cash revived election; They say money was crucial to Prop-E detnews.com 04.25.99 Investors have troubled histories las vegas review journal 04.27.99 ● Investor served probation for domestic assault on 12 year old boy detnews.com 04.25.99 Can a pair win a jackpot?: local men hope to... crainsdetroit.com 03.17.97

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