Copyright © 1998 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Another great editorial in the Muskogee Phoenix today says....

"Politics aside, tribe's budget is shocking!"

"Regardless of your views on Cherokee Chief Joe Byrd or the tribe's constitutional crisis, reports the tribe doesn't know its financial status are truly alarming.

"Calls by Oklahoma congressmen for a full audit of federal funds are prudent. And the tribe would be wise to make a full accounting of finances its top priority.

"The tribe's financial health has been a matter for speculation; speculation because few, if any, know the full picture. Byrd and his administration have not provided a financial review, even to tribal councilors.

"A recent report compiled by former tribal auditor John Uzzo showed the tribe had spent or committed $6.4 million more than in its current budget. Shortly after he made his report, Uzzo was let go.

"Chief Byrd says Uzzo wasn't producing and that his numbers were flawed, the result of problems with the tribe's accounting software.

"Assuming Byrd's explanation is correct -- admittedly a big assumption considering Byrd's track record on open government and dissenting opinions -- the tribe is making budget decisions with no idea of its overall financial condition.

"Even those who believe Byrd is working sincerely for tribal interests must agree such mismanagement is unacceptable.

"Byrd should welcome any federal review and any effort to make financial data public. By resisting such measures he only hurts the people he claims to want to help."

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Now here is a person with the "big picture" view! Getting past the smoke screen of Byrd and cohorts remarks and half truths and lies, we get to the real issues and questions that remain unanswered!

Remember that the "good" councilors have all voted two years in a row to not approve fiscal year budgets (1996, 1997, and now 1998) presented by the Byrd administration because Byrd could not, or would not "justify" the past years budget appropriations. Those good councilors were over-ruled in 8-7 votes by Byrd loyalists on the council and the unjustified years were ignored, and the new fiscal year budgets were approved.

The entire tragedy of the last year started with councilors wanting Byrd to justify his administration's expenditures! People... this is the issue, has always been the issue! Byrd has refused to disclose public documents, and that led to court actions which led to a legal search warrant for those documents executed by our Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, which led to where we are at today!

If Byrd wanted to end this drama, all he would have to do is go to court and face the charges. If he has nothing to hide he will be vindicated, if he has committed crimes he will have to be held accountable. It is simple! But Byrd has refused to do the right thing and instead dragged the Cherokee Nation and our people into the darkest days in modern Cherokee history, with the longest running series of bad press and notoriety ever seen. This is not politics people, and this is not leadership! This about a man who calls himself a leader putting his own personal interest ahead of the people he serves! It is also a crime!

We hope everyone participates in a February 25th message to Byrd that he must end this nonsense and report to our tribal court of law now!!!!!!! ... and we don't mean the suspended judges Tina Glory Jordon or Dewayne Littlejohn!!!!