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Indian Affairs Committee to Hold Hearing on Trust Fund Litigation

March 26, 2007

Posted & © By: Brad Jolly, Partner

On Thursday, March 29, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the Indian trust fund litigation, including the Cobell class action lawsuit. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), said that invited Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to the hearing to "publicly discuss the origin of the settlement offer and. more »

Richardson Commits to "Prez on the Rez" and Other Candidates Considering

March 21, 2007

Posted & © By: Brad Jolly, Partner

Democratic Presidential Candidate Bill Richardson, current governor of New Mexico, was the first to commit to participating in the first Indian country Democratic primary presidential debate, "Prez on the Rez," to be held on the Morongo Reservation in August. In addition, active discussions are underway with other Democratic primary candidates to attend, including former Senator John Edwards. more »

Morongo Confirms it Will Host Democratic Debate

March 21, 2007

Posted & © By: Brad Jolly, Partner

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians has confirmed that it has been selected to host the first ever Indian country Democratic presidential candidate debate. The debate will be held at the Tribe's Morongo Casino Resort & Spa's Event Center in Cabazon on the Reservation on August 23, 2007. Tribal Chairman, Robert Martin, remarked, "No major presidential campaign event has ever come to Indian Country. more »

Senate Confirms Artman as ASIA

March 9, 2007

Posted & © By: Brad Jolly, Partner

The Senate officially confirmed Carl Artman as the new Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs by a vote of 87-1. Only Senator David Vitter (R-LA), who is a strong critic of the BIA and off-reservation gaming, voted against Artman's confirmation, although 12 senators were not in attendance to vote.

Since Artman is a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, he has recused himself from all issues involving. more »

Interior Proposes Insulting Settlement of Trust Fund Litigation

March 9, 2007

Posted & © By: Brad Jolly, Partner

This week, the United States proposed paying $7 billion to settle the Cobell trust litigation - less than the $8 billion being considered by the previous Congress. Under the terms of the government's proposal, the United States would pay $7 billion over ten years to individual Indians and tribes, without interest. In return, all tribal and individual trust mismanagement claims against the government would be dropped and the government would be relieved of any future liability. more »

Democratic Presidential Candidates to Debate in Indian Country

February 23, 2007

Posted & © By: Brad Jolly, Partner

The Indigenous Democratic Network is going to host a Democtraic Presidential Debate in Indian Country called Prez on the Rez. Representatives of the Network are still deciding on a location, but have narrowed it down between the Sandia Pueblo and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. The debate is scheduled for August 23, 2007.

For more detailed information, visit the Indigenous Democratic Network's web site. more »

Governor Richardson Would Create Cabinet Secretary for Indian Affairs

February 23, 2007

Posted & © By: Brad Jolly, Partner

In an interview with Indian Country Today, Democratic Presidential Candidate Bill Richardson, currently in his second term as governor of New Mexico, said, "If I'm elected president, I would propose to make the cabinet secretary of Indian Affairs the Secretary of Indian Affairs; I would make it cabinet level. I would try, because I believe within the Department of the Interior it does not get the attention it deserves. more »

NIGC Officially Withdraws Class II Proposal

February 16, 2007

Posted & © By: Brad Jolly, Partner

On February 15, the National Indian Gaming Commission ("NIGC") published notice that has officially withdrawn its controversial amendments to the agency's Class II regulations. The notice simply stated, "After receiving extensive comment, and after many consultations with tribal governments and tribal regulators, the Commission anticipates significant revisions to any proposed rule. As such, the Commission has decided to withdraw the current proposed rule and may publish a new proposed rule at a later date. more »

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INDIAN LAW UPDATES

Senate Committee to Re-Consider Artman as ASIA

Even though the Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved Carl Artman and sent his nomination for Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs to the full Senate for confirmation last term, an unrelated partisan... more »

Native Languages Legislation Passes Congress

Congress passed the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006, sending it to the President for signature. The Act provides for the revitalization of Indian languages through support... more »

Bush Nominates New ASIA

President Bush nominated Carl J. Artman as the new Assistant-Secretary of Indian Affairs. Artman is a member of the Oneida Nation Wisconsin. He currently serves as an associate solicitor for Indian affairs... more »

Cobell v. Kempthorne, D.C. Dist. Ct. (a.k.a. "Indian Trust Litigation")

On July 11, 2006, the D.C. Circuit removed Judge Royce C. Lamberth from the case, claiming that he had shown too much bias against the Department of Interior.

Unfortunately, the Senate Committee on Indian... more »