Casino foe mailings scrutinizedMiller calls foul over highly organized opposition campaign
By MIKE CONNELL
Times Herald
Directing its appeal to "Michigan families," a newly incorporated organization has launched a direct-mail campaign aimed at blocking proposed casinos in
Port Huron and
Romulus.
There is a twist, however.
The organization -
Gambling Watch - isn't a grassroots anti-gambling group opposed to casinos on moral or ethical grounds. In fact, it's a corporation created just two weeks ago by a Lansing public-relations specialist whose clients include
MGM Mirage, a giant in the gambling industry and a fierce opponent of the two casinos.
"This was put together by a very well known, highly paid political consultant who has worked for other casino interests, other gaming projects in Michigan," said Rep.
Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, whose district encompasses Port Huron. "Spare me the righteous indignation."
Gambling Watch was incorporated on Jan. 18,
according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The legal paperwork was handled by a lawyer with
Dickinson Wright, a Lansing law firm that counts
MGM Mirage among its clients.
Gambling Watch's resident agent is
Lori Wortz, the chief operating officer of
Sterling Corp., a Lansing public-relations firm that specializes in ballot proposals and public-policy issues.
Conservative activistWortz is well-known in conservative political circles. She oversaw Pat Robertson's 1988 presidential campaign in Michigan and later worked for the Republican National Committee. Last month, she helped guide
Mitt Romney's campaign to a primary victory in his native state.
In a telephone interview, Wortz acknowledged her work with MGM Mirage but said Gambling Watch was strictly her initiative.
"They're supportive of it," she said of MGM, "but there are other people who support it, too."
MGM Mirage, based in Las Vegas, has annual revenues in excess of $7 billion. Its majority owner is
Kirk Kerkorian, 90, whose personal fortune was estimated at more than $9 billion last year by Forbes magazine. According to federal disclosure forms, MGM spent at least $160,000 in the first half of 2007 to lobby against a Port Huron casino.
The people spoke
Wortz recalled campaigning for a 2004 ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to require voter approval of any expansion of gambling in Michigan. The measure was aimed at so-called "racinos," or the legalization of slot machines at seven horse tracks in southern Michigan.
MGM Mirage, which has invested more than $800 million in a casino-hotel in Detroit, and the
Saginaw Chippewa, which runs the state's largest casino in Mount Pleasant, did not want competition from race tracks. They poured money into the campaign for the 2004 proposal, which passed easily.
Wortz said the voters spoke clearly, which is why she believes it would be wrong to allow casinos in Port Huron and Romulus without a statewide referendum.
"What I feel and many others feel is that it's important for voters to be aware that this is about expansion of gambling," she said. "Any expansion in the state should go to the voters."
Families on alertGambling Watch has shared that message in fliers mailed to households across the state. The flier carries a large headline: "
Michigan Family Alert." A smaller headline adds:
"Washington Poised to Force Two New Casinos on Michigan Families. Only You Can Stop the Special Interests."The flier mentions Wednesday's congressional hearing and calls on people to contact five politicians - Sen.
Carl Levin, D-Detroit; Sen.
Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing; Rep.
John Dingell, D-Dearborn; Rep.
Bart Stupak, D-Menominee; and Miller.
It says the five "can put a stop to this special interest attempt to add two more casinos to the 22 Michigan already has."
Dingell and Stupak introduced the two bills that will be debated at Wednesday's hearing. Levin and Stabenow have expressed support for a Port Huron casino.
Fair play, free tradeFor the five years she has been in office, Miller has been steadfast in her support of a Port Huron casino, describing it as a matter of fair play and free trade.
She noted Port Huron is the only American border community that has not been allowed to compete for the jobs and tax revenues generated by casinos on the Canadian side.
She expressed frustration with Detroit Mayor
Kwame Kilpatrick and his refusal to reach out to Port Huron.
"I remember when he was saying we had to support casinos in Detroit so his city could compete for all the American dollars going to the casino in Windsor," she said. "And he was right, just as it's only right to let Port Huron compete for all of the American dollars going to Point Edward and Sarnia."
Miller also observed that Port Huron's entire political delegation - local, state and national - supports the casino.
She said her office has received "upwards of 500 phone calls in the last week" from people responding to Gambling Watch's mailer. Little if any of that opposition was coming from St. Clair County, she added, "and we're certainly not getting any from Port Huron."
Nick Choate, an aide to Stupak, said his office also has been getting calls. "I don't have an exact number. We are getting a few," he said. "I wouldn't say the phones are ringing off the hook."
Choate said he was unaware of Gambling Watch's origins.
Deceptive tactics
For her part, Miller clearly wasn't amused to learn of the ties to a public-relations agency and a law firm that represent MGM Mirage.
"When my staff first told me about these fliers, I said 'I can tell you right now who's behind this,'" she recalled. "Who would pay for a mailing like this? It had to be other casino interests. This thing is about money."
She said people who oppose gambling for reasons of conscious were being manipulated by special interests with hidden motives.
"Have you heard of
Jack Abramoff?" Miller asked, naming the corrupt lobbyist who is serving a federal prison sentence for fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion. "These people who put this flier out have taken a page right out of the Abramoff playbook. These are exactly the kind of tactics he would do for his clients. It's a very deceptive thing."
Miller is scheduled to testify at Wednesday's hearing, which focuses on bills introduced by Stupak and Dingell. She also said the 48-member committee is not expected to vote on the measures until later this month.
If the committee approves the bills, they would go to the full House for its consideration. Companion legislation has not yet been introduced in the Senate.
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