There can be no question why Michael Malik found Rep. Don Young to be such an attractive political figure

There should be no question why Michigan's Michael Malik was attracted to Alaska Rep. Don Young given Malik’s interests in expanding Indian gaming, real estate development, marine activity and national security ventures; particularly those ventures surrounding the Great Lakes region.

Given Rep. Don Young’s leadership clout and in particular his committee assignments the last ten years is it any wonder Detroit casino syndicator and deal broker Michael J. Malik, Sr. befriended Young?

During 106th Congress (1999-2000) Young was chairman of the House Resources Committee (oversight of Indian gaming and Native American affairs matters). Malik had been pushing for an off-reservation Indian casino for the Bay Mills Indian Community since the early 1990s and had made several attempts at marina development.

During the 107th Congress (2001-02), Young became chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; he stepped aside as chair (Rep. Richard Pombo became chairman) to become vice chairman of the House Resources Committee.

During the 108th Congress (2003-04) Young continued as chair of the House Transportation Committee; and vice-chairman of the House Resources Committee and was a member of the Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans subcommittee. He was appointed to the Select Committee on Homeland Security and its Infrastructure and Border Security subcommittee. It was during the 108th Congress that Malik and the Ilitch Family dramatically stepped up their political contributions and paid lobbying efforts.


Freshman Candice Miller introduced HR 831 in 2003 with Young as co-sponsor; and in 2004 Young had language inserted into the Transportation Spending Bill in an attampt to expedite aprovals of a Bay Mills Port Huron casino.

During the 109th Congress (2005-06) Young continued to chair the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; and Young stepped down as vice-chair of the House Resources Committee but continued as a general member. Rep. Young also continued to serve on the Homeland Security Committee and its Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity Subcommittee.

Again an attempt was made in 2006 to insert language to approve the Port Huron casino into a Transportation Bill; attempts were also made to slip through a bill to require the Interior Secretary to immediately take up consideration of the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s Federal recognition matter; Malik’s biography notes he’s involved in a homeland security project and that he put together and moderated an educational panel on Homeland Security at a Conference in Ireland for Members of Congress and officers from foreign embassies.

With the shift of congressional control moving to the Democrats, currently in the 110th Congress (2007-08) Young is no longer chair but continues as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; and with Pombo’s departure from Congress, Young is now the ranking member on the House Natural Resources Committee. Young lost his seat on the House Homeland Security Committee.