The Birmingham News: "The Boston Globe disclosed Friday that the anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform sent $1.15 million from an Indian tribe that runs a casino in Mississippi to two groups that oppose gambling in Alabama. In 2000, the Christian Coalition of Alabama received $850,000 and the Citizens Against Legalized Lottery got $300,000, according to ATR's Grover Norquist.

This is the same Christian Coalition that already has been the subject of an embarrassing disclosure tying the group to gambling money. Last fall, several news organizations reported that out-of-state Indian tribes that operate casinos gave money to Washington, D.C., lobbyists who paid as much as $4 million to Ralph Reed, the former head of the national Christian Coalition. Reed helped the Christian Coalition of Alabama successfully fight bills that would allow video gambling at Alabama's four dog tracks."

The Decatur Daily: "Spokesmen for two Alabama anti-gambling groups say they did not know that more than $1 million in donations came indirectly from an Indian tribe that runs a casino in Mississippi. There's a solution for their ignorance.

Americans for Tax Reform was the direct donor of $850,000 to the Alabama Christian Coalition in 2000 and $300,000 to Citizens Against Legalized Lottery in 1999. Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, told The Boston Globe recently that the money was from the Indian tribe."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Embarrassing disclosure (The Birmingham News 5/15)
Editorial: Today is one last chance to pass funds disclosure bill (The Decatur Daily 5/16)

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

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