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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Principal Chief Chad Smith urged the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council to “phase-in” a change to the Cherokee Nation’s minimum wage, and vetoed a version of the law which calls for an immediate increase in the minimum wage to $8 per hour. “I strongly support a minimum wage increase. However, this version of the law, as passed, would allow the next person who walks in off the street to make as much money as a dedicated employee who has worked here for three years,” Smith said. “That isn’t right. This proposal affects hundreds of people. I care about all of our employees and we need to treat them fairly through the budget process. We should do what most governments do: phase in an increase in minimum wage over time.” Smith remains supportive of the plan to increase the minimum wage to a full $8 an hour, but he criticized the immediate impact of the bill, saying that it was not well thought out and that adjusting the wages of some employees but not others would be “bad for morale and bad policy.” Smith proposes that the Council phase in the increase in the minimum wage to allow for responsible planning, budgeting and implementation that would treat all employees fairly.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

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 Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

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 Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org