Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council sustained the veto of Principal Chief Chad Smith of a legislative act that would allow for political banishment for certain crimes.
The proposed act would have prevented tribal elected officials, appointed officials and department heads convicted of certain crimes from working for the tribe or holding future public office. Banishment would have been determined by a Judicial Appeals Tribunal judge if the individual in question would have been convicted.
According to Principal Chief Smith, the act as written was too narrow in its overall goal. In addition, the act was open to vague interpretation of who was included in the definition of “department head”.
“I suggest we study this more as to the breadth of the crimes and figure out who it applies to,” Smith told the Council. Smith continued by saying he thought the overall idea was a good one, but the wording of the legislation needed to be studied further and the opportunity provided for a more in-depth discussion of solutions.
The Council also confirmed the nominations of Sharon Swepston and Johnnie Earp to the Economic Development Trust Authority. Swepston was nominated as a Governing Board Member and Earp was nominated as a Board Member.
The Council also approved grant applications to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency, and authorized resolutions regarding the approval of right-of-ways over the Arkansas Riverbed.
In other action, the Council passed a resolution opposing State Question 726, commonly referred to as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). After study of the proposed State Question, the Council agreed passage would remove funding from various Cherokee Nation programs.
Two military honorees were also recognized during the Chief’s State of the Nation address. Elizabeth Sullivan and Major Gregory Scott Hendrix, who presented Principal Chief Smith and the people of the Cherokee Nation with a special unit coin.
The next Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 12, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the tribal complex south of Tahlequah. The meeting will also be broadcast live via the Internet. Visit the path to live events, and visit the path to the archives.
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |