Ex-Lobbyist Has Strong Ties to Michigan Charity

The Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation, a nonprofit group that says it seeks to “educate state lawmakers” by bringing them on fishing and shooting trips, has close ties to a former state lobbyist, reports the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

James Christopher Shaeffer co-founded the group in 2003 with Merle Shepard, a governmental-affairs chairman and president-elect of Safari Club International. Mr. Shaeffer currently serves as the contact for the organization, which takes politicians — and sometimes their families as well — on expenses-paid trips.

The charity has raised about $26,000 over four years, some of which came from registered lobbying groups. Tax-deductible donations to nonprofit organizations cannot be used for lobbying purposes.

Mr. Shaeffer tells the newspaper that he does not attend the charity’s events. “We don’t want any speculation that we are improperly lobbying,” he says.