Family that built fortune on Detroit Sports and Little Caesars Pizza directed $900k to these political committees while expanding gambling ventures

Ilitch Family/Malik Political Contributions

Ranked by cumulative giving 2002-2006

From records available at the Federal Election Commission and various state officials

Cumulative Amount	Political Committee
$200,000.00	1. LET VOTERS DECIDE YES ON 1 512104-BAL (Restrict Expansion of Gambling)
$75,000.00	2. 2004 JOINT STATE VICTORY COMMITTEE - REPUBLICAN
$75,000.00	3. CANDICE MILLER FOR CONGRESS / CANDICE PAC
$54,400.00	4. MICHIGAN SENATE 2006 - DEMOCRAT (Stabenow)
$50,000.00	5. REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE – July 13, 2005 (Day Between Pombo All Star Game Fundraiser & House Resources Committee Hearing)
$40,000.00	6. BARSTOW CITIZENS FOR REAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - 2006
$36,200.00	7. STABENOW FOR US SENATE
$26,700.00	8. DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - 2006 (Stabenow)
$26,600.00	9. SAN JOAQUIN/CA REPUBLICAN VICTORY FUND - 2004 (Pombo/Violated CA Political Reform Laws & fined $6,500)
$25,000.00	10. NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
$22,000.00	11. FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID / SEARCHLIGHT LEADERSHIP FUND
$16,800.00	12. MARK KENNEDY 06 - REPUBLICAN (WI)
$16,000.00	13. ALASKANS FOR DON YOUNG INC.
$16,000.00	14. KNOLLENBERG FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
$16,000.00	15. RICHARD POMBO FOR CONGRESS / RICH PAC
$14,000.00	16. BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC - REPUBLICAN
$13,000.00	17. NATIONAL LEADERSHIP PAC (Rep. RANGEL)
$11,200.00	18. MCCLINTOCK FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (CA)
$10,100.00	19. FRIENDS OF HILLARY (Clinton)
$10,000.00	20. CITIZENS TO SAVE CALIFORNIA (Schwarzenegger)
$10,000.00	21. OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PAC
$9,500.00	22. LEWIS FOR CONGRESS / FUTURE LEADERS PAC (CA)
$9,000.00	23. DANIEL K INOUYE FOR US SENATE (HI)
$9,000.00	24. STUPAK FOR CONGRESS
$5,400.00	25. JENNIFER M GRANHOLM FOR GOVERNOR
$5,000.00	26. AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP PAC (DEM)
$5,000.00	27. PERATA, TAXPAYERS FOR (CA)
$4,200.00	28. BOUCHARD FOR US SENATE
$4,000.00	29. FRIENDS OF PAT WIGGINS (CA)
$3,400.00	30. DICK DEVOS FOR GOVERNOR 512426-GUB
$3,400.00	31. GEORGE PERLES FOR MSU TRUSTEE 512571-CAN
$3,300.00	32. ALBERTO TORRICO FOR ASSEMBLY 2006 (CA)
$3,300.00	33. CALIFORNIAN TAXPAYERS FOR HORTON
$3,300.00	34. CARL MARLINGA FOR CONGRESS - DEMOCRAT
$3,300.00	35. FRIENDS OF FABIAN NUNEZ 2006 (CA)
$3,300.00	37. LELAND YEE FOR SENATE (CA)
$3,000.00	38. CARL MARLINGA FOR CONGRESS
$3,000.00	39. CHOCOLA FOR CONGRESS INC - REPUBLICAN
$3,000.00	40. GOVERNOR ENGLER LEADERSHIP FUND
$2,676.00	41. ARKANSAS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE 2004 FCRC
$2,000.00	42. FRIENDS OF KEVIN DELEON (CA)
$2,000.00	43. JEFF DENHAM FOR SENATE 2006 (CA)
$2,000.00	44. KERRY, JOHN
$2,000.00	45. MIKE COX FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 510518-CAN
$1,875.00	46. MAZE FOR ASSEMBLY (CA)
$1,500.00	47. AGHAZARIAN 2006 (CA)
$1,338.00	48. KIRKWOOD, MYRAH LYNN
$1,000.00	49. BOB BEAUPREZ FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	50. BROWN-WAITE FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	51. COMMITTEE TO ELECT GARY ACKERMAN - DEMOCRAT
$1,000.00	52. COX 5200 CLUB 511499-IND
$1,000.00	53. DR. ED HERNANDEZ, O.D. DEMOCRAT FOR ASSEMBLY (CA)
$1,000.00	54. GINGREY FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	55. JIM GERLACH FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	56. KILPATRICK FOR UNITED STATES CONGRESS - DEMOCRAT
$1,000.00	57. MAX BURNS FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN (MT)
$1,000.00	58. MIKE ROGERS FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	59. PADILLA FOR SENATE (CA)
$1,000.00	60. PATTY BERG FOR ASSEMBLY (CA)
$1,000.00	61. PEARCE FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	62. ROY ASBURN FOR SENATE (CA)
$500.00	63. COM TO REELCT JDG WILLIAM C WHITBECK 508592-CAN
$500.00	64. FRIENDS OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN - DEMOCRAT
$10,525.00	65. MISC
$888,314.00	TOTAL

* See links in sidebar for additional break down with specifics on donor, date and amount

Red Bird II: the official airplane of the Detroit Tigers & Red Wings owned by the Ilitch Family (Olympia Aviation)

Official Airplane of the

Detroit Tigers & Red Wings (Ilitch Holdings, Inc.)

Operator	Model	Registration
OLYMPIA AVIATION (Ilitch Holdings, Inc.)	DC9	N682RW

Status	Remarks
Leased From	PROVIDENT BANK

Orig Delivery Date	Age-Yrs	Serial No
Sep-77	27.1	47733

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

Exclusive interview with Sen Chuck Schumer(D-NY) on proposed Mohawk Casino

Mohawk Casino has the support of NY state politicians and BIA approved project's EIS. Schumer said the biggest obstacle is Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, who opposed off-reservation gaming as Governor of Idaho. Kempthorne is worried that approving the Mohawk Tribe's land-into-trust application will open the doors for other tribes.



read more | digg story

Casino Developer who fronted travel & entertainment costs for Rep. Don Young (R-AK) did the same for former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA)

After fronting the costs of private plane travel & entertainment for Rep. Don Young, the former chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee; a Detroit-based casino syndicators fronted the costs ($31,533.00) of similar private plane flights, and other travel and entertainment expenses for Rep. Richard Pombo who happened to be the then-chairman of the House Resources Committee. The committee has oversight for Indian gaming matters.

RICH Political Action Committee (Rep. Richard Pombo)

Expenditures

2005-2006 Cycle

Recipient	Amount	Date	Description
Malik, Michael Sr Detroit, MI	$5,000	7/11/2005	In-kind (private jet)
Malik, Michael Sr Detroit, MI	$16,064	9/14/2005	PAC fundraiser-event rental / transportation
MJM Manistee, Inc Detroit, MI	$10,469	9/14/2005	PAC fundraiser-catering / hotel
Total	$31,533

Obtained from PoliticalMoneyLine for Congressional Quarterly; and OpenSecrets.org Center for Responsive Politics

Michael J. Malik, Sr. the driving force behind ‘off-reservation” casino plans for various Indian tribes in California, Michigan and New York was a top donor and fundraiser for both Members. Matters involving and effecting those tribes and proposals were frequently before the House Resources Committee.

Specifically Malik and his partners (Ilitch Holdings, Inc.) ranked #4 among Young’s Top 10 donors. Among Pombo’s RICH Political Action Committee donors for the 2004 & 2006 election cycles, Malik ranked #5 and his partners Mike & Marian Ilitch ranked #9. Jack Abramoff ranked #10.

And in addition to Malik and Ilitch contributions; their various attorneys, public relations consultants, lobbyists and miscellaneous business partners related and unrelated to the casino proposals were also random contributors to Pombo, Young and others.

you may want to review these posts:

• Rep. Young (R-AK) flying around in Detroit Casino Developers' private jet
• Members of Congress aren't the only elected officials flying around in the private aircraft of Detroit casino syndicators

Here's a tip for Schwarzenegger's legal affairs secretary, you don't have to take the Detroit Developer's word for it

Andrea Hoch, Governor Schwarzenegger’s legal affairs secretary needn’t depend on Detroit-based casino developer Barwest nor what she hears from San Bernardino County tribes to get an understanding of ancestral claims and historical territories related to greater Barstow. Local, state and federal agencies in the Mohave Desert region are frequently involved in CEQA and NEPA activities that include cultural resources elements and consultations with tribes they have acknowledged as having historical ties to the area.

There are volumes and volumes of such documentation readily available in this electronic age. A quick review of the numerous studies and undertakings by such agencies will bring some independent clarity to Ms. Hoch and provide her with a more objective understanding of these matters.

For starters, the Barstow General Plan specifically identifies four Native American groups, recognized by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with ancestral claims to the Barstow area: Chemehuevi, Fort Mojave, Kawaiisu and Serrano. It was in fact, when the City of Barstow caucused with the Chemehuevi Tribe on such matters in the mid 1990s that the parties began to explore joint opportunities for economic development including a casino in Barstow.

Second, in developing the latest comprehensive land management plans --updates to the California Desert Protection Act -- for both the Western Mohave (WEMO, 2006) and the North & Eastern Mohave Desert Regions (NEMO, 2002) the Department of Interior acknowledged and consulted with the representatives of the following federally recognized Native American Reservations respectively:

NEMO	WEMO
Consulted with leaders of these reservations: Chemehuevi (CA) Colorado River Indian Tribes1(AZ) Ft. Mohave (AZ) Timbisha (CA) Las Vegas Paiutes (NV)	Consulted with leaders of these reservations: 29 Palms Band Chemehuevi Colorado River Indian Tribes Ft. Mojave Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone Morongo Band San Manuel Band Timbisha Shoshone

Those examples are representative of dozens more.

For decades, when agencies based in the greater Mohave Desert (e.g. Fort Irwin, Edwards Air Force Base, the BLM, various offices of the National Park Service and the City of Barstow) were either required to contact, or desired to contact and consult with recognized Native American interests, they did not seek out representatives of the Los Coyotes Band (northeastern San Diego County) nor the Big Lagoon Rancheria (Humboldt County, 50+ miles south of the Oregon border); and conversely no representatives of either of those Reservations have previously asserted their own interests or involvement in such greater Mohave Desert matters.

Sovereign tribes within the Mohave Desert/San Bernardino region must be shown the same deference local and state governments would expect if the tables were turned; and the needs and desires of local tribes should be heard addressed with the same importance, respect and priority that local government leaders have come to expect.

Ignoring the concerns of these sovereign communities or simply “blowing them off” is not the right thing to do. Long after the Detroit developer feeding you one-sided half-true information has gone back to Michigan to count the money, tribes of San Bernardino County will still be here; and local and state governments will need to work together with the tribes for the protection and benefit of all Californians.

 

You may want to review these related posts as well:

• Schwarzenegger aide Andrea Hoch doesn’t have a clue!
• Detroit-based Barwest Gaming taught Schwarzenegger aide Andrea Hoch all she needs to know on Native American history of the Great Mohave Desert

• Casino developer’s representations biased; consultants “specialization” challenged

1 Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation (CRIT) is a collection of Native American people whose ancestral heritage is tied to the various tribes that made their homes along the Colorado River including Mojave and Chemehuevi people.

Ok sought for historic Fine Arts Building demolition

3.18.07

Ilitch asks for OK to demolish most of Fine Arts Building

by Robert Ankeny

Ilitch Holdings Inc. has requested permission from the Detroit Historic District Commission to demolish most of the Fine Arts Building at 44 W. Adams while preserving the building facade.

Karen Cullen, Ilitch vice president for communications, said architects from SmithGroup and Preservation Wayne determined that the entire building was not reusable. “Preserving the facade while we can is an important first step,” Cullen said.

Built in 1905, the office building contained the lobby of the Adams Theatre, added behind it in 1917 on Elizabeth Street and connected to it by a tunnel. The Adams offered the full range of entertainment from vaudeville, silents, talkies, Cinerama and even adult movies before it was closed in 1988. Its marquee, in danger of collapsing, was removed in 1999.

Francis Grunow, Preservation Wayne executive director, said the organization “grudgingly supports the proposal ... provided redevelopment happens quickly.”

The commission is scheduled to consider the request at a March 29 meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers, Coleman A. Young Municipal Building, Detroit.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070318/SUB/703160344&SearchID=73275739022826

You may want to review these additional posts:

• Faded Detroit: Behind the Facade
• Blogger reports Ilitch has let Fine Arts Building deteriorate

Rep Mike Rogers (R-MI) reintroduces gaming moratorium bill

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Michigan) introduced a bill on Thursday to bar approval of new gaming compacts ...H.R.1555 would bar the Interior Department from approving any tribal-state compacts for two years. The bill was referred to the House Natural Resources Committee ... Rogers introduced a similar bill in the 109th Congress ...



read more digg story

Dykema Gossett PLLC (Ilitch law firm) third largest contributor to Senator Stabenow’s re-election committee.

Dykema Gossett PLLC (Ilitch law firm) third largest contributor to Senator Stabenow’s re-election committee.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the collective attorneys at the Dykema Gossett PLLC law firm made up the third largest contributor to Senator Debbie Stabenow’s re-election committee. Dykema Gossett is one of the primary law firms retained by Marian Ilitch, Michael Malik and their various gaming related affiliates. Dykema Gossett helped negotiate $1.1 billion in acquisition financing Marian Ilitch required to buyout her MotorCity Casino partners.

Attorney’s at Dykema Gossett who provide counsel to Ilitch/Malik entities include R. Lance Boldrey, Jason Hanselman, Richard McLellan and Len Wolfe. Boldrey previously was counsel to Governor John Engler and negotiated the State’s

Charlotte Beach land claims settlement with the Bay Mills Indian Tribe. That’s the agreement Senator Stabenow has championed in order to allow a Port Huron Casino Resort for the Bay Mills Tribe.

The Ilitch Family and Michael J. Malik, contributed more than $117,000.00 to committees supporting Senator Stabenow’s 2006 re-election. Together Ilitch, Malik and their Dykema Gossett attorneys contributed more than $155,000 to Stabenow’s re-election.

	Top Contributors 2006 RACE: MICHIGAN SENATE Deborah Ann Stabenow (D)*

Ilitch & Troha families responsible for 70% of the money Rep Don Young (R-AK) took in on his best fundraising day of the entire 2006 campaign

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 (as reported by filer)
1.	5/23/2005	$58,000.00	35
2.	3/11/2005	$47,050.00	59
3.	8/3/2006	$43,770.00	91
4.	3/10/2005	$42,550.00	61
5.	9/14/2006	$41,700.00	68
6.	9/19/2005	$41,449.00	82
7.	3/23/2005	$33,100.00	62
8.	3/9/2005	$29,976.00	44
9.	8/5/2005	$29,100.00	47
10.	5/24/2005	$27,946.00	59
more...

From PoliticalMoneyLine for Congressional Quarterly

Casino developer indicted on charges he laundered political contributions via his family

March 1, 2007

For the Trohas, political giving is a family affair

By Daniel Byce

The family that pays-to-play together stays together.

Or so it seems with the Troha clan of Kenosha.

Charged Thursday with illegally funneling campaign cash to Gov. Jim Doyle and others through relatives, multimillionaire Dennis Troha has set a pattern - along with his extended family - of dropping numerous hefty contributions all at once.

On Oct. 6, for instance, eight members of Troha's family gave a total of $50,000 to the state Democratic Party's federal account. The individual donations ranged from $5,000 to $10,000.

Democratic Party officials had no comment late Thursday. But earlier this week, spokeswoman Jessica Erickson sent an e-mail statement defending the donations.

"I . . . want to emphasize that there is nothing unusual about different family members supporting the Democratic Party or a campaign, or for contributions to come in at the same time," Erickson wrote.

Democratic Party Chairman Joe Wineke repeated that mantra early Thursday, saying he knew nothing of these Troha donations until recently. But he added that he was sure that lots of families make a habit of donating large sums to the party, all on the same date.

So would he please name names?

"I don't do our financial stuff," Wineke said. He added, "I don't even know Dennis Troha."

Everybody does now.

Actually, there is one family that earlier bundled its donations and dropped them off at the party one day several years ago. Yes, seven members of the Troha dynasty did the same thing back on Oct. 20, 2002, chipping in a total of $35,000 to the Democratic Party's federal coffers, campaign records show.

Thursday's indictment cites five of these seven contributions as being possibly illegal.

Troha is accused of using a business venture called Johnson Houston Partners to provide money to family members for political donations so he could circumvent campaign contribution limits. His attorney, Franklyn Gimbel, defended Troha's actions.

"I just don't think what he did was illegal," Gimbel said.

The Troha family practice of jointly giving large sums doesn't end with the state Democratic Party. Troha's family and business associates also gave:

• Seven donations of $2,100 each - the maximum in a congressional primary - to U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, a Janesville Republican, on Nov. 30, 2005. Earlier that year, eight members of the Troha clan gave $2,000 each to Ryan over a two-day period.

Overall, Ryan, who has gone to bat for the Kenosha casino proposal with federal regulators, has received more than $50,000 from the family since 2001.

"The recent indictments surrounding the Troha family contributions to another campaign are very troubling," Ryan said in a statement. "I am anxious to learn the results of this investigation. Once all of the facts become available, if any contribution to the Ryan for Congress campaign is found to be legally in question, I will take appropriate and corrective action."

• Seven donations of $1,000 each to the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee on March 21, 2005. Since January 2003, Troha's family and business associates have pumped $35,000 into this fund.

Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser, a Kenosha Democrat who oversees the fund, was not available for comment.

• Twelve donations totaling $17,500 on Aug. 23 to U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat who was the ranking minority member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Troha, who put his net worth at $33.7 million in 2005, made most of his money off his trucking business, which he sold in July.

The congressman's staff referred questions to a campaign aide, who could not be reached for comment.

• Seven donations for a total of $14,000 on May 23, 2005, to U.S. Rep. Don Young, an Alaska Republican who was then the vice chairman of the House Resources Committee, which was considering a bill that would have restricted off-reservation casinos. Young also was the House Transportation chairman.

Alana Petersen, the political director for Young's campaign, did not return calls Thursday.

Of course, this money pales by comparison with the dollars given to Doyle, who has the final say over the Kenosha casino. In all, Troha's family has given him $200,000 since January 2002, including $51,500 on June 30, 2005.

Doyle campaign staffer Anson Kaye said Thursday that the second-term Democrat would return campaign contributions from Troha if the businessman is convicted.

So we're not talking about the full $200,000 - just the contributions that would be part of any plea deal or conviction?

"No question about it," Kaye agreed.

Daniel Bice can be contacted by phone at (414) 223-5468 or e-mail at dbice@journalsentinel.com.

Detroit-based Barwest Gaming taught Schwarzenegger aide Andrea Hoch all she needs to know on Native American history of the Great Mohave Desert

Andrea Hoch, Governor Schwarzenegger’s legal affairs secretary was asked by the Chairman of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee to clarify circumstances and details surrounding gaming compacts for the Big Lagoon Rancheria (Humboldt County) and Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians (San Diego County) prior to a June 28, 2006 hearing on the two agreements.

Among other things Hoch was asked to (1) provide background on any other Northern California sites that were considered for Big Lagoon; and (2) respond to charges that the two tribes in relocating hundreds of miles from opposite corners of the state to Barstow are encroaching on ancestral territories of San Bernardino County based tribes.

It is interesting to note that in a run down of Northern California sites considered, Hoch gives the following as reasons several Northern California sites were abandoned:

• “In addition, another tribe may have had a claim to this site.”
• “and another tribe may have had historical claims to the area on which the site is located”
• “However, another tribe had been talking to Fortuna representatives about a site for a gaming facility in that city”

There is nothing certain or definitive about these possible ancestral claims or apparent historical ties to the land and yet they are given as reason enough for Big Lagoon Rancheria to abandon any further consideration of those particular sites. And in one case, since a tribe was already in talks with a particular City, Big Lagoon [Barwest] dismissed that site apparently not wanting to “butt-in.”

But when it came to butting-in on a Mohave Desert tribe, Barwest and its partners apparently didn’t think twice. And when Hoch was asked to respond to charges of tribal encroachment in the greater Barstow area, she dismisses similar claims by San Bernardino County tribes as unsubstantiated or inconsequential. Apparently Southern California tribes must meet a higher standard than Northern California tribes.

It’s unclear what qualifies Andrea Hoch as an expert on Native America history of the greater Mohave Desert as nothing in her resume would indicate a particular expertise in the field and she makes no references to appropriate state agencies like the Native American Heritage Commission or California’s academic and research institutions.

Instead, her arguments dismissing the ancestral claims of San Bernardino County tribes are a convenient parroting (cut and paste) of arguments used often by attorneys and PR representatives of Barwest LLC, the Detroit casino syndicators bankrolling and directing the Barstow twin casino resort plans for tribes from opposite corners of the state.

Hoch begins her response to then-Chairman Jerome Horton’s questions on encroachment concerns by stating:

“We have given consideration to opponents' claims. Based on our information, no federally recognized tribe has sovereign or cultural interests in Barstow.' Further, though the opponents claim sovereign and cultural rights of the 'Serranos"' to Barstow, it is our understanding that there is no federally recognized Serrano entity.”

What Andrea Hoch selectively leaves out is that by “We” she means the Governor’s staff and Barwest attorneys; and by “our information” she means an elementary study commissioned by Barwest, and conveniently based on findings and understandings as known in the mid-20^th Century, to make the points that Barwest wants to make. Truth be told, this section of Hoch’s letter (heck, maybe even the entire response letter) was originally drafted by Barwest attorneys.

Hoch’s limited knowledge about Native American history in Barstow comes directly from a study by Missoula, Montana based for-profit entity Historical Research Associates, Inc. (HRA). Barwest commissioned the study after Mohave Desert scholars failed to produce the report Barwest representatives wanted them to draft. HRA provides consulting services to developers and other public and private clients in the areas of cultural resource management, litigation support, and natural resource history. HRA has no record of expertise or experience in the Mohave Desert.

The fact that Andrea Hoch would fail to adequately entertain concerns of California’s regional tribes and yet rely solely and without question on a report by consultants based in Montana, outlined and paid for by the out-of-state proponents and investors in the proposed project, is insensitive to the Southern California Indian people involved and insulting to all Californians. This is not how progressive public policy decisions are made, and not what’s necessarily best for Californians, but rather how public policy benefiting special interests rules the day.

Andrea Hoch fails to solicit, entertain or consider scholarly information that presents a point of view different from the Barwest commissioned study; and failed to seek out any other independent scholarly sources or public agencies (Mohave River Valley Museum, BLM, DOI/National Parks Services in the Mohave Desert, Defense Department, Native American Heritage Commission, etc.) on the matter of greater Barstow area ancestral claims and local history.

Hoch failed to meet with and hear directly the claims of the Southern California Tribes involved.

It is near certain that neither Governor Schwarzenegger, Dan Kolkey, Pete Siggins, Andrea Hoch nor any other team of administration officials took field trips to investigate and verify what’s been represented about all three communities (Barstow, Los Coyotes Reservation/Warner Springs and Big Lagoon Rancheria/Trinidad) involved prior to concluding compact negotiations. It is doubtful Marian Ilitch has completed any similar series of field trips either.

What’s represented by Hoch in her letter is simply a one-sided view provided without question by the project’s advocates.

The picture below is of a monument marking the entrance to the Mohave River Valley Museum; a place one might visit on a field trip to the greater Barstow area organized by parties other than Barwest or Barstow Mayor Lawrence Dale.

You may want to review these related posts as well:

• Schwarzenegger aide Andrea Hoch doesn’t have a clue!
• Here's a tip for Schwarzenegger's legal affairs secretary, you don't have to take the Detroit Developer's word for it

• Casino developer’s representations biased; consultants “specialization” challenged

CREW - Official 13 count Ethics Complaint Includes Motor City Casino Syndicators

The 13-point complaint filed by the Center for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington (CREW) with the HOUSE Committee on Standards of Official Conduct against Rep Richard Pombo specifically calls out fundraising activity involving the Ilitch Family and Michael J. Malik, Sr under Point 12 of complaint - Dispensation of Special Favors.



read more digg story

Casino approval would rest with Secretary of Interior

Cason said final approval is not guaranteed, noting that the casino would be 450 miles from the tribe's reservation and that the department was worried about the proliferation of off-reservation casinos. Sources in government say Kempthorne is behind the tough talk."I think Secretary Kempthorne is very appropriately and legitimately concerned a



read more digg story