Tribe's contributions to Rep. Stupak have remained virtually hidden

During the 2008 campaign cycle, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI 1st) received five contributions totaling $4,900 from the Bay Mills Indian Community. But that detail isn't easily discoverable when searching standard political donor data bases at often referenced sites like fec.gov, OpenSecrets.org or CampaignMoney.com.

Generally, contributions to federal political committees are restricted to individuals but through loopholes, tribes are able to make contributions. Most searchable donor data bases aren't able to recognize records for organizations so a search of the donor "Bay Mills Indian Community" isn't likely to pull up any results.

However, using a new resource available on the Federal Election Commission's Web site, its possible to recognize contributions from tribes during the 2008 campaign cycle if you search a specific candidate's donor records.

By reviewing "Candidate Details" for Rep. Stupak and then exploring "itemized individual contributions" it's revealed that the following flowed from the Bay Mills tribe to Rep. Stupak during the 2008 campaign cycle:

06.08.07 - Bay Mills Indian Community - $1,000
09.04.07 - Bay Mills Indian Community - $1,200
09.04.07 - Bay Mills Indian Community - $1,300
05.27.08 - Bay Mills Indian Community - $400
08.11.08 - Bay Mills Indian Community - $1,000
09.30.08 - Bay Mills Indian Community - ($300) refund

The Bay Mills Indian Community's Brimley, MI, Reservation sits within Stupak's congressional district. Over the last decade, Stupak has introduced a handful of failed bills in Congress to resolve so-called land claims the tribe has made to property in a subdivision called Charlotte Beach. In the 110th Congress, H.R. 2176 was defeated by an overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives.

Had any of Stupak's bills been approved by Congress, they would have paved the way for a group of casino syndicators behind the Bay Mills tribe, to build and manage a casino in Port Huron, Michigan.

It appears that the tribe made several contributions to Stupak during the 2004 & 2006 election cycles as well. That's in addition to more than $40,000 that has flowed to Stupak from those pushing the Port Huron casino including Michael J. Malik, Sr., and Mike and Marian Ilitch.

Rep. Hastings FEC disclosures falsely identify Detroit casino syndicator as employee of lobbying firm

Campaign finance disclosures submitted to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by the re-election committee of Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL 23rd) indicates a Michael J. Malik contributed $2,000 to Hastings' committee on 10.10.08. The official report filed with the FEC indicates Malik is employed as a Developer by Wheat Government Relations [a D.C. lobbying firm] and identifies Malik's address at 1201 South Ends [sic] Street, Suite Two, Arlington, Virginia, 22202.

Wheat Government Relations' Web site does not identify an employee named Malik and there is no one named Michael Malik registered as a lobbyist with Wheat Government Relations.

There is a Detroit casino syndicator named Michael J. Malik, Sr. whose gaming affiliates include MJM Enterprises & Development, Blue Water Resorts, Gateway Casino Resorts, and BarWest, LLC. The later three are Wheat Government Relations' clients. Blue Water and Gateway are "affiliated organizations" known to be paying the bills and directing lobbying for two Indian tribes respectively that are also registered as Wheat clients: Bay Mills Indian Community and Shinnecock Indian Nation.

During the 110th Congress, Rep. Hastings was senior member of the House Rules Committee, chairman of the Legislative and Budget Process Subcommittee; chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission); and co-chairman of the Florida congressional delegation.

Lobbyists pushing casino related bill previously rejected in the House of Representatives

Although H.R. 2176 was overwhelmingly defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives on 6.25.08 (2nd Quarter '08):

• Blue Water Resorts, LLC, paid $40,000 to Wheat Government Relations to lobby in support of H.R. 2176 during the 3rd Quarter '08.



• Blue Water Resorts, LLC, engaged Dykema Gossett in 3rd Quarter '08 to lobby in support of H.R. 2176.



• Patton Boggs LLP, Zell & Cox P.C., and Wheat Government Relations all filed 3rd Quarter '08 lobbying disclosures indicating they were pushing support for the passage of H.R. 2176 on behalf of the Bay Mills Indian Community. Wheat reports being paid $20,000 during the 3rd Quarter but failed to report whether or not an affiliate, Blue Water Resorts, was paying the tribe's bill.



• Franklin Creek Consulting and Potomac Partners DC reported they had lobbied on behalf of MJM Enterprises in support of legislation to support the land claims settlements described in H.R. 2176. Potomac Partners reported being paid $10,000 by MJM Enterprises but failed to disclose whether or not affiliate Blue Water Resorts was paying MJM's lobbying bills.

Sources: OpenSecrets.org; Lobbying Disclosure Act Data Base

Wheat Government Relations continues a complex web of lobbying engagements for Casino Syndicator

Wheat Government Relations has been registered as lobbyists for the Bay Mills Indian Community for a decade, and for the last five years Wheat has also represented the tribe's casino development partner Blue Water Resort, LLC.

Wheat filed two amendments to its 1st Quarter '08 lobbying disclosures for the Bay Mills tribe. In the second amendment (third try), Wheat disclosed that Blue Water Resorts was an affiliate of the Bay Mills Indian Community: paying the tribe's lobbying bills and directing its lobbying efforts.

This past year, Wheat Government Relations hired Alexander J. Beckles, LLC, to lobby on matters related to the Bay Mills Indian Community. Blue Water Resorts is likely paying Beckles' bills.

Beckles was legislative director for Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-NY 10th) from 1992-2007.

Alan Wheat was a regular contributor to Edolphus Towns' campaign committee from 2002-2007.

Amended lobbying registration reveals Casino syndicator paying Tribe's bills

Akerman Senterfitt has been lobbying on behalf of the Bay Mills Indian Community since 6.01.08. The D.C. lobbying firm registered as the tribe's lobbyists on 6.24.08.

Akerman Senterfitt filed an amended registration on 7.21.08 disclosing that Blue Water Resorts, an affiliate of the Bay Mills Indian Community, would be paying the tribes bills and directing lobbying efforts.

Joe Findaro is the Akerman Senterfitt lobbyist representing the Bay Mills Indian Community (Blue Water Resorts).

Casino syndicator Michael J. Malik, Sr., is the manager of Blue Water Resorts, LLC. The company's address is recorded at 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan -- the headquarters of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. Marian Ilitch and Malik have partnered on various casino ventures and members of the Ilitch Family are behind his plans to build a Bay Mills Indian casino in Port Huron.

Casino backers have given more than $40k to Rep. Bart Stupak

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI 1st) has authored various bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would ultimately allow the Bay Mills Indian Community and its financial backers to build a casino in Port Huron, Michigan. That tribe already has two casinos on its reservation in Northern Michigan.

During the 110th Congress Stupak authored H.R. 2176 (Related Bills: H.RES.1298, H.R.3048, H.R.4115) which was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee in February 2008 but was defeated overwhelmingly in a vote of the full House in June 2008.

Casino syndicator Michael J. Malik, Sr., and members of Detroit's Ilitch family (they own the Detroit Red Wings, Little Caesars Pizza, Detroit Tigers and MotorCity Casino) are behind the scheme to develop a Port Huron casino.

Several D.C. lobbying firms including Wheat Government Relations (Alan Wheat, Julie Shroyer and others) and Potomac Partners DC (Richard Alcalde & Daniel Feliz) have been retained by their affiliates and partners (Bay Mills Indian Community, MJM Enterprises, Blue Water Resorts).

Collectively they have contributed at least $39,900 to Stupak's political committees. They've raised thousand more for Stupak via business associates, vendors, attorneys, consultants and other friends. (See Contributions Details)

A report available at CampaignMoney.com indicates that Stupak also received another $3,500 directly from the Bay Mills Indian Community. Because generally federal political contributions are restricted to individuals and most data base tracking services are not set up to track contributions from organizations, it is often difficult to track contributions from Indian tribes. Tribes are exempt from the rules that apply to most other organizations and corporations.

Ilitch and associates gave $150k to those who pushed casino bill in House

Those who argued in the U.S. House of Representative in favor of H.R. 2176 received more than $150,000 from those backing a casino in Port Huron, Michigan.

On 6.25.08, the House of Representatives debated the merits and voted on H.R. 2176, a bill that would have settled so-called land claims made by two Michigan tribes.

If passed, the bill would have paved the way for the Bay Mills Indian Community to build a casino away from its reservation in Port Huron, Michigan. Casino interests who are pushing that plan include Michael J. Malik, Sr. and members of Detroit's well-known Ilitch Family. Malik and the Ilitch family have partnered on various casino projects in Michigan and across the U.S.

The following Representatives, as captured by C-Span, argued in favor of H.R. 2176:

• William Clay (D-MO)
• John Dingell (D-MI)
• Dale Kildee (D-MI)
• Candice Miller (R-MI)
• Nick Rahall (D-WV)
• Bart Stupak (D-MI)
• Don Young (R-AK)

A review of political contributions available at newsmeat.com reveals Mike Malik, members of the Ilitch Family (including Mike & Marian Ilitch) and several lobbyists who represent their affiliates and partners (Alan Wheat, Julie Shroyer, Richard Alcalde & Daniel Feliz) have contributed more than $150,000 directly to political committees controlled by those seven Members of Congress. (See Contributions List)

Ilitch granted exception so family's Olympia Entertainment can be leveraged to benefit her casino

11.18.08

Ilitch casino gets exemption
State says Olympia Entertainment can book acts

By Daniel Duggan

Marian Ilitch has won an exemption from the Michigan Gaming Board and now can use Ilitch-owned Olympia Entertainment to do bookings for the new theater at MotorCity Casino, despite a law prohibiting casinos from using vendors in which they have an ownership interest.

Negotiations on the exemption began before the theater was completed in September and, as a result, only two shows have been booked at the 1,886-seat theater since, both under special one-time-use exemptions.

The gaming board's executive director issued a one-year exemption to the casino Nov. 7, saying the arrangement doesn't “harm the integrity of gaming” in Michigan.

Using Olympia Entertainment is a crucial part of the business plan for the new theater, Sound Board, so that bookings for performers at the casino can be made in conjunction with Comerica Park, the Fox Theatre and shows at other venues booked by Olympia Entertainment, said MotorCity COO Rhonda Cohen.

“Being able to leverage acts with the other Olympia Entertainment venues gives us access to better acts,” Cohen said.

When it comes to Michigan casino owners using vendors they also own, a measure of control is needed, said Richard Kalm, executive director of the gaming board. The spirit of the law is to ensure that a casino company doesn't take over all the vending companies in the area and create a monopoly, he said.

“And we're always worried about organized crime and theft,” Kalm said. “So, entities have to be kept separate.”

In evaluating the case with Ilitch Holdings, Kalm said there is no apparent concern from a gaming standpoint.

“In dealing with Marian Ilitch and Ilitch Holdings, we've never had any problems with them, and they've been perfect in reporting to us,” he said. “But you have to look at these issues carefully.”

Kalm has sole discretion to grant such an exemption to a company as long as it “preserves the integrity of gaming and protects the public.”

Several conditions apply to the exemption. The casino is required to issue quarterly reports on activities with Olympia, and the deal is subject to annual re-approval.

A similar exemption was granted to MGM Grand Detroit Casino because the Las Vegas-based gaming company MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) — which owns an interest in the Detroit operation — also owns a travel agency in Las Vegas, which is used to bring guests to Detroit, Kalm said.

Exemptions also have been issued in the past for Olympia so that all three casinos can purchase luxury boxes for sporting events and buy season tickets.

Daniel Duggan: (313) 446-0414, dduggan@crain.com

Pelosi pressured to replace Rep. Rangel; GOP has not replaced Reps. Young or Lewis

Politico is reporting that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing growing pressure to replace Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) atop of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. For now however, writers John Bresnahan & Patrick O'Connor conclude:

Pelosi also has breathing room within her own caucus. Republicans tried to turn Rangel into a campaign issue during the recent elections, calling on Democratic challengers and incumbents to return the hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions that Rangel has handed out in recent years, but Democrats largely ignored this effort.

Democrats have countered Republican attacks on Rangel by pointing out that Boehner has not ousted Reps. Don Young (R-Alaska) and Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) from high-ranking committee posts despite ethics allegations and FBI investigations of both men...

Is it a coincidence or not that a team of Detroit casino syndicators lead by Marian Ilitch and Michael J. Malik, Sr., happens to have questionable lobbying and campaign contribution ties to Reps. Rangel, Young and Lewis. The Ilitch/Malik team has contributed at least $89,000 to political committees controlled directly by those three members of congress.

Various Ilitch/Malik affiliates and partners (Bay Mills Indian Community, MJM Enterprises, Blue Water Resorts, etc.) have a hired lobbyists (Alan Wheat, Wheat Government Relations; Richard Alcalde and Daniel Feliz, Potomact Partners DC; Richard Kessler and Billy Lee Evans, Kessler & Assoc.; Barbara Bonfiglio, Williams & Jensen) who have been at the center of controversy and investgations involving the three Congressmen referenced above.

Tribe's contribution to Rep. Don Young's re-election committee not easily discoverable

The Bay Mills Indian Community contributed two checks totaling $5,000 to the re-election committee of Rep. Don Young (R-AK) on 4.01.08, April Fool's Day. But discovering that fact is no easy task.

The Bay Mills tribe was able to exploit a loophole in federal campaign finance laws which generally prohibit contributions from organizations, restricting donations to individuals. Most political data bases are built to track the first and last names of individual donors not the name of an organization. This makes discovering contributions from organizations like Indian tribes more difficult. Searching contributor lists using "Bay Mills Indian Community" is not likely to yield any references.

However, these two contributions were discovered after reviewing "Schedule A (Itemized Receipts)" of Young's quarterly disclosure report filed 7.15.08. That report covered his campaign committee's activity for the period 4.01.08 to 6.30.2008.

It's worthy noting that one day before the tribe made its two contributions, on 3.31.08, Young received several thousand dollars in checks from a deal maker who has pushed a scheme to develop a third Bay Mills casino and his D.C. lobbyists.

Five years ago Young co-authored H.R. 831 (108th Congress); and since then, he has worked to advance plans backed by casino syndicators who seek to exploit opportunities with the Bay Mills tribe in order to build a casino in Port Huron, Michigan.

In his most recent effort, Young helped to successfully shepherd H.R. 2176 through the House Natural Resources Committee last February. The bill, intended to pave the way for the proposed casino development, was approved by the Committee and reported out favorably on 2.13.08.

As noted above, on on March 31st & April 1st -- a little more than six week's after his success in the Natural Resources Committee -- the tribe, its casino syndicator and lobbyists representing their interests gave at least $11,000 to Young's committee.

Then on 6.25.08, Young led, with passion, debate on the floor of the House of Representatives in favor of H.R. 2176. However, his colleagues weren't buying it and overwhelming rejected the bill in a vote with an outcome of 121 yeas to 298 nays.

By posting the tribe's contributions on April 1st, Young was able to:

• Avoid disclosing the contributions until after the 6.25.08 vote on the House Floor;
• Report them separately from contributions made by their financial backers and lobbyists which were reported in the 1st Quarter '08 disclosures.

MAPLight.org: connecting Ilitch to the U.S. Congress money race

MAPLight.org is dedicated to illuminating the connections between money and politics. The campaigns of those highlighted in the graphic below were heavily funded by Mike & Marian Ilitch, their family members and casino development partner Michael J. Malik, Sr. They helped these Members of Congress raise thousands more from their business associates, consultants, vendors, attorneys and friends.

They had hoped these politicians could have convinced their colleagues to pass H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115 in the 110th Congress. They failed to produce a positive result when H.R. 2176 was defeat on the floor of the House.

Click on the graphic below to visit MAPLight.org and see details and connections for these politicians and others.

MAPLight.org: Illuminating the connection between money and politics affiliated with H.R. 2176

MAPLight.org illuminates the connections between money and politics surrounding H.R. 2176 (110th), the bill voted down on the floor of the House last June. The bill was intended by Reps. Don Young, Candice Miller and Bart Stupak to pave the way for Detroit casino syndiators to build a Port Huron casino in partneship with the Bay Mills Indian Tribe. Each of those Members has been rewarded with substantial support for their re-election campaigns and other political committees paid for by the Port Huron/Bay Mills casino backers.

Muckety.com: What's the difference between a bank and a casino?

Check out this post from Muckety.com:

What’s the difference between a bank and a casino?
11.19.08
Brought down by subprime mortgages, credit default swaps and other high-stakes games, the financial world is giving Las Vegas a bad name.

In recent months, commentators and members of Congress have repeatedly accused banks and investment companies of “operating like casinos.”

Curious about how close the worlds of banking and gambling really are, we took a closer look... (Original Post)

Explore this Muckety Map here or at Muckety.com

Typos hid $57,000 Ilitch contributed to DSCC & Sen. Levin during 2008 Election

According to OpenSecrets.org, members of Detroit's Ilitch Family appear to have contributed $132,300 to federal campaign committees in the 2008 campaign cycle.

But a closer examination of records on file with the Federal Election Commission reveals that Mike and Marian Ilitch each gave an additional $27,500 ($57,000 total) to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on 12.31.07. The contributions remained hidden because the DSCC recorded the contribution as from Marian Hitch (Little Caesars Enterprises Inc./Sec.) and Michael Hitch (Hitch Holdings/Chairman).

Earlier in 2007 the Ilitch Family contributed $23,000 to Michgan Senator Carl Levin's re-election committee after Levin finally endorsed a Port Huron Casino plan the Ilitch family backs. It's likely the $57,000 benefited Sen. Levin's re-election campaign.

The contributions recorded with errors to the Democratic Senatorial Committee bring the Ilitch Family's total contributions to federal campaign committees during the 2008 election cyle to $189,300.

According to OpenSecrets.org, the Ilitch Family's casino and real estate development partner Michael J. Malik, Sr. contributed $33,500 to the DSCC and another $4,600 directly to Sen. Levin. Malik and his affiliates (MJM Enterprises and Blue Water Resorts) are bankrolling the Port Huron Casino plans fronted by the Bay Mills Indian Community.

In total they contributed $90,500 to the DSCC and $27,600 to Levin's committee for a total of $188,100 that likely supported Sen. Carl Levin's re-election. During Sen. Levin's six previous campaigns for the Senate, the Ilitch Family contributed a total of just $3,900 to Michigan's Senior Senator.

2002 Article sheds light on Ilitch involvement with Port Huron Casino bid

An article originally published on 10.23.02 in the Detroit News sheds light on the Ilitch Family's involvement with plans to build a Bay Mills Indian Community Casino in Port Huron, Michigan:

Pizza matriarch takes on casino roles
Marian Ilitch lobbies to legalize gambling in Hawaii, helps Port Huron gaming effort

...Al Sebastian, a spokesman for Ilitch Holdings Inc., parent company of Little Caesar Enterprises Inc. and other family endeavors said, "She has been successful in Detroit, and she's looking to duplicate that success elsewhere."

Some Detroit casino interests are in a lather about the prospect of a Port Huron casino. But Ilitch, 69, has merely played matchmaker between members of the Bay Mills Indian Community -- with whom she has had a relationship for about 10 years -- and federal lawmakers who ultimately will vote on the St. Clair County project, Sebastian said.

"We would do that for any group, whether it concerns proposed casinos, entertainment efforts or sporting events," Sebastian said...

The Port Huron question
Back home, Ilitch assistance, however tangential, with the Port Huron casino proposal and the Bay Mills tribe could raise eyebrows. Some Detroit casino interests think Port Huron is too far away to significantly dent their business, but others like MotorCity investor Tom Celani and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick contend the casino would take revenues from Detroit casinos -- and the city of Detroit.

Michigan Gov. John Engler and the Bay Mills tribe reached a settlement by which Bay Mills would drop a land claim in the Upper Peninsula if it were allowed to open a casino in Port Huron.

Sebastian confirmed that Marian and daughter Denise attended an Oct. 10 hearing called to discuss legislation allowing the Port Huron deal to proceed. But he said the main reason for the trip was to show off the Stanley Cup trophy won by the Red Wings to legislators.

"Marian and Denise Ilitch observed the hearings, but did not participate,"

Celani, a 10 percent shareholder in MotorCity, said a study by Detroit casinos showed that a Port Huron rival could cost the city of Detroit up to $20 million a year in tax revenues.

"We're disappointed," said Celani, who also co-owns a Harley-Davidson dealership in Farmington Hills. "Why should anybody in Detroit promote anything within a 150-mile radius? It doesn't make sense."

The city of Detroit could have a say, ultimately. Agreements with each of Detroit's three casinos prevent them from owning a piece of another casino within 150 miles.
Ilitch spokesman Sebastian said Celani's concerns are unfounded. "There is no ownership because there is no casino," Sebastian said of Ilitch's role. "It is not an issue."

But Ilitch believes that a Port Huron casino would help Metro Detroit.

"It's a good proposal that will help the tribe, Port Huron and the state if approved," Sebastian said.

"Members of our organization [Michael J. Malik, Sr.] have had a relationship with Bay Mills for 10 years," Sebastian said. "We had initial discussions about casinos before the Detroit casinos opened." At one time, Bay Mills wanted to build a casino near the Fox Theatre.

Recently "the tribe came to our organization to ask for our assistance to open doors for their proposed casino project in Port Huron," Sebastian said. "We introduced some of their members to a number of public officials in Washington, D.C."

In 2001, 54 percent of city voters approved a proposal to build a Port Huron casino.

Ilitch hasn't leaped at every casino opportunity, though. In 1999, she, along with Celani [and Michael Malik], was part of a group that would manage Little River Casino in Manistee. But Ilitch left the group. Ilitch and Celani are the two biggest local investors in Detroit casinos.

Other Detroiters are watching Port Huron developments.

The head of a group of about 100 Metro Detroiters owning 12 percent of MotorCity Casino has asked Ilitch about Port Huron. Ilitch has assured Vivian Carpenter, president of Atwater Entertainment Associates, that her children have no ownership interest in Port Huron, and that Marian Ilitch isn't violating a pact prohibiting the ownership of another casino within 150 miles...

Ilitch Family casino and development partner Michael J. Malik, Sr., and several entities he's affiliated with (Blue Water Resorts, MJM Enterprises, Blue Water Resorts Manager, Inc) are tied directly to the Bay Mills Indian casino scheme.