LANSING – Facing competition from the New International Trade Crossing, the Moroun family, owners of the Ambassador Bridge, continued to contribute thousands to legislators’ campaign and political action committees in 2011.
Campaign finance reports showed at least $216,400 in spending by the Moroun family, including Manuel “Matty” Moroun, his wife Nora, son Matthew and Matthew’s wife Lindsay.
The reports did not cover the entirety of spending because political action committees’ activity for the last two months of 2011 does not have to be disclosed until April. In the past, the Morouns have donated to PACs, which then gave substantial sums to legislators’ campaign committees.
But the contributions to lawmakers, their caucus political action committees and the state Republican Party were substantial. The latter received $100,000 from Matthew Moroun.
Other large donations went to the four caucus PACs.
The House Republican Campaign Committee received $20,000 from the family, while the Senate Republican Campaign Committee received $10,000. Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) sponsored SB 410 , which would have created the public-private partnership for a new bridge south of the Ambassador.
The House and Senate Democratic funds each received a $10,000 contribution. House Democrats have said building the NITC is a priority for them.
Rep. Pete Lund’s (R-Shelby Township) leadership PAC, Leadership Under a New Direction, received $10,000. And House Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas’ PAC got $5,000.
Other lawmakers who came away with $1,000 or more from the Morouns last year were: Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Township), who got $4,000; Sen. Steve Bieda (D-Warren), who got $2,000; Sen. Virgil Smith (D-Detroit), who got $3,000, Sen. Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion), who got $1,000; and Sen. John Moolenaar (R-Midland), who got $2,000.
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