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GOP group funneled tribal money to anti-gamblers
Friday, May 13, 2005

Americans for Tax Reform, a conservative anti-tax group headed by Republican activist Grover Norquist, took $1.5 million from tribes and funneled $1.15 million of it to anti-gambling groups fighting tribes, The Boston Globe reports.

Norquist told the paper that the $1.15 million donation came from a single tribe that he would not name. But he admits he gave $850,000 to the Alabama Christian Coalition and $300,000 to the Citizens Against Legalized Lottery.

The two groups are currently fighting efforts by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to expand gaming. Both, however, deny knowing that the money came from a tribal source -- most likely the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Norquist said he took money from tribes and set up meetings with President Bush over the past four years. 'This is all completely legit," told The Globe in an interview.

Americans for Tax Reform has been subpoenaed by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee as part of the investigation into Jack Abramoff. Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), the committee chairman, has disputed Norquist's claim that the committee has asked for the group's donor list.

Get the Story:
Antitax activist says he got $1.5m from tribes (The Boston Globe 5/13)

Relevant Links:
Americans for Tax Reform - http://www.atr.org

Related Stories:
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe gave $25K to GOP tax group (04/25)
One GOP group won't give records to McCain (04/22)
McCain subpoenas GOP groups linked to Abramoff (04/21)
GOP critic of McCain received tribal donations (11/08)
Ralph Reed paid $4.1M to oppose tribes (10/26)
Christian Coalition still after Poarch Creeks (10/19)

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