Republicans, Democrats field Abramoff questions

Observer Staff

2/28/2006 12:00:00 AM

LANSING (AP)-Republicans and Democrats alike have faced questions about donations connected to former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his former clients, including the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe.

Among them:

-U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Lansing Democrat up for re-election this year, has been criticized by the National Republican Senatorial Committee for her role in lobbying the federal government to give the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe a $3 million grant for schools in 2003.

Critics have said the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe should not have received the money. Tribal leaders have not spent the cash yet pending further internal review.

Stabenow has received at least $4,000 in campaign donations from the Saginaw Chippewas in recent years. Stabenow's office has said her work for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe is based on their status as constituents and is not related to campaign donations.

Stabenow also worked against some of Abramoff's goals. She supported a Bay Mills casino bid in Congress at the same time Abramoff was trying to kill it on behalf of the Saginaw Chippewas.

-U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint, has received $6,000 from the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe since 2001, and records show contributions of $8,500 from other Tribes linked to Abramoff since then.

Kildee has been heavily involved in American Indian issues during nearly 30 years in Congress. He has said in a statement that "whatever I do on behalf of Native Americans, I do because of my long-standing support for their cause, not because of who lobbies for them."

-U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, received a $500 donation from Abramoff in 2001. Camp has donated that money to charity and says he did not have a relationship with the lobbyist.

Camp's political action committees have received about $26,000 in donations from the Saginaw Chip-pewas since 1998, his office said.

The Tribe's reservation is located within his district and Camp has said he is "proud of the work I have done on behalf of the Native American community."

-U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, has been criticized by the Gun Lake Tribe for trying to delay its proposed casino in Allegan County. Hoekstra's position is based on his opposition to gambling and not because of any political donations, his office said.

Hoekstra is one of several lawmakers who wrote letters urging the Bush administration to reject casino bids.

The lawmakers or political action committees they supported received money from potential rival Tribes or Abramoff's former associates.