March 5, 2007

Bets on Politics


Contributions by indicted businessman Dennis Troha and his family illustrate how influential tribal gambling interests and Indian tribes have become in Wisconsin politics in recent years.

Troha, who until last month was working to build a $808 million casino in Kenosha, and his family gave nearly $500,000 to Gov. Jim Doyle and Democratic groups since 2002, according to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks campaign contributions.

Tribes and tribal gambling interests have become the leading cash contributors to political campaigns in Wisconsin.

But exactly how much they have spent in recent years is unclear. That’s because some donations by tribes can’t be tracked.

But we estimate that the tribes and casino interests have in recent years spent several million dollars on direct contributions to state and federal elections.

Between 2000 and 2006 the Ho-Chunk Nation gave $514,950 to federal candidates and state and national parties and campaign committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C. That included a $500,000 donation to the Democratic National Committee just before the 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

And in some cases, tribes pay for informational television ads during the campaign season that they don’t see as political.

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