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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation tribal council approved a budget amendment that authorizes the use of funds to open an office in Washington D.C.

Principal Chief Chad Smith proposed the idea of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma having an office in Washington earlier this year, at an informal budget discussion with the council. At Monday night’s meeting, the idea had wide ranging support.

CNO Council member, Don Garvin, at Monday night’s regular council meeting.

"We have to be there," said council member David Thornton. "The only way to get more money from the pot is to be in D.C. I’ve thought we should do something like this for a long time."

"I support this Washington office very much," said council member Jackie Bob Martin. "I think we’ve missed the boat over the last several years by not having someone there."

Some council members were hesitant to spend money on workers and an office in Washington when there are people within the Cherokee Nation that need assistance.

Council member Barbara Starr-Scott addressed those issues by saying that the Cherokee Nation "has spent a lot more money in the past on lobbying and attorneys fees and ended up with nothing to show for it. Congressmen don’t want to see lawyers", Starr-Scott said. "They want to see elected officials."

Council member Dorothy McIntosh pointed out that if the office did not prove to pay it’s own way, the issue could be addressed again next year in the new budget. "I don't think we'll have to worry about that though", McIntosh said. "Usually any money spent in Washington will come back ten or twenty-fold."

The measure passed nine to five, with Mary Flute-Cooksey, Harold DeMoss, Chuck Hoskin, Johnny Keener and Nick Lay opposed.

The council unanimously approved resolutions appointing the tribal delegate and alternates to the National Congress of American Indians and approving the reduction of members on the Sequoyah High School Chapel Advisory Board from ten to three.

"That will make it a functioning board," said council member Chuck Hoskin.

The council also authorized a budget amendment to allow certain programs to spend new grant money, and authorized Cherokee Nation’s Community Development Division to submit a proposal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 13, at 6:00 p.m.