John Conyers, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick Get Big Money From Casinos

WASHINGTON -- Some of the biggest names in the gambling world are betting on the congressional futures of Detroit Democratic Reps. John Conyers and Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick.

There has been a sudden surge in contributions to the two lawmakers from casinos and, for Conyers, professional gamblers -- two groups that want to expand their reach by allowing online poker for money in the United States.

Federal law prohibits U.S. financial institutions from processing payments for gambling, thereby shutting out U.S. players and businesses from the highly profitable and popular Internet gambling market.

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Some of the top casino operators want a piece of the action from gamblers who either don't normally go to a casino to play or would gamble more if they could also do it online.Since the day after the Nov. 7, 2006, election -- when the two-year contribution cycle began -- Conyers has received $88,899 from casino and gambling individuals and political action committees, according to data analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Conyers, who is uncontested for re-election this year, chairs the House Judiciary Committee, with jurisdiction over gambling issues. He's now the fourth-biggest recipient of contributions from gambling and casino interests in the House -- and the top non-Nevadan.

About $34,000 of Conyers' total came from a fundraiser in November in Las Vegas, according to federal campaign documents. Among those who wrote checks to Conyers' campaign were professional poker superstars Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson -- winner of 10 World Series of Poker bracelets -- and Phil Ivey -- winner of the $1 million prize at the Monte Carlo Millions tournament who has been dubbed "the Tiger Woods of Poker," documents show.

Mark Tenner, a gaming consultant in Las Vegas, said he and the Pokers Players Alliance -- with more than 1 million players -- hosted the Conyers fundraiser at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas in November.

"We are trying to get poker federal law in the United States to tax, license and regulate poker (for money) on the Internet," said Tenner, adding that about 25 people attended the fundraiser.

John Conyers, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has been supportive of that effort."

Kilpatrick, whose district includes Detroit's three casinos, has gotten $44,250 in casino-gambling contributions this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

She is all but assured re-election to the House after surviving a close primary challenge Aug. 5.

The MGM Grand Detroit is part of the MGM Mirage casino family.

The MGM Mirage's PAC and employees are the industry's top contributors to federal candidates and parties, giving $882,279 this cycle, the Center for Responsive Politics says.

Greektown Casino is owned by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Among Indian tribes with casinos, the tribe is the 19th biggest contributor to congressional candidates, said Doug Weber, a senior researcher at the nonpartisan group.

It gave $106,300 to federal candidates and parties in 2008.

Only one contribution -- $1,000, to Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign -- in the current election is listed in FEC documents as coming from someone associated with MotorCity Casino, Weber said.

Conyers and Kilpatrick successfully spearheaded the effort on the U.S. House floor June 25 to block a land-swap deal that would have permitted two Michigan Indian tribes to open casinos in Port Huron, and in Romulus or Flint, that would have competed with Detroit's casinos.

Alan Feldman, the senior vice president of public affairs for MGM Mirage, which owns Detroit MGM Grand and 16 other casinos, says Conyers and Kilpatrick are important allies.

"They are our lawmakers, too," Feldman said. "We started in Michigan almost solely as a casino. Now we have a wonderful hotel, and we have a spa and restaurants.

"... As our investment in Michigan grows, so, too, must our relationships in Washington grow."

The Detroit lawmakers' sudden attraction in gambling circles pushed them onto the top-20 list of House members receiving contributions in the 2008 cycle from the influential industry.

Conyers' new fourth-place ranking among the 435-member House in contributions from gambling/casino interests compares to his 50th place ranking in the last election, then at $18,456.

Kilpatrick is now 16th, versus 72nd in the previous cycle ($12,750 in donations), according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

The top three members of the U.S. House receiving contributions from casino-gambling interests in this election cycle are Nevadans Jon Porter, a Republican, ($240,500); Shelley Berkley, a Democrat, ($232,930); and Dean Heller, a Republican, ($143,350), according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Still, contributions from the gaming industry are only a small percentage of Conyers' and Kilpatrick's total donations.

Through July 16, the most recent filing date, Conyers' total receipts for 2007-08 were $893,206, with casino-gambling accounting for about 10 percent. Casino and gambling donations accounted for nearly 6 percent of Kilpatrick's $790,379.

The lawmakers' FEC reports, the basis of the Center for Responsive Politics' compilations, highlight their growing attraction to gaming interests.

MGM, for example, hosted a Las Vegas fundraiser for Kilpatrick in January. Her campaign paid $5,686 for catering, $464 for limos and $607 for an overnight stay at MGM's ritzy Bellagio Hotel, according to FEC documents.

Overall, her FEC filings for this election cycle show donations by such familiar gaming names as MGM Mirage PAC (the conglomerate's special interest political action committee), which has given her the maximum allowable of $10,000; Harrah's Entertainment Inc.'s Impacts Pub in Las Vegas ($5,000); $18,700 from MGM employees in Detroit and elsewhere; and $6,000 from Indian tribes, including $4,600 from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of central Michigan, which owns two casinos and opposed the two proposed tribal-owned casinos.

"Given the fact that (MGM casino) has invested $800 million in a (Detroit) facility, it's not surprising that they are taking more interest in the representation they are receiving," said Bob Berg, Kilpatrick's campaign consultant.

Despite repeated contacts from The Detroit News, Conyers' spokesman declined comment.

After his November trip to Las Vegas, when the pro players held a fundraiser, Conyers returned on March 31 for a fundraiser for him hosted by his Democratic House colleague, Shelley Berkley of Las Vegas, one of the biggest allies of the gaming industry.

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Deb Price / Detroit News Washington Bureau