Indians Fault McCain Panel
When Senate Indian Affairs Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) opens today’s hearing on President Bush’s fiscal 2007 budget, it will mark the first time since July that his committee has focused on issues of broad significance other than gambling or the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.
That seven-month stretch has irked much of the tribal community, which feels that serious issues affecting American Indians are being ignored by the panel and its chairman, a likely presidential candidate in 2008.
Tribal leaders and lobbyists argue that while ethics reform, off-reservation gambling operations and campaign finance reform are valid issues for the committee to ponder, they add that they’re concerned by McCain’s seeming preoccupation with them and lack of focus on issues such as education, housing and health care that have a wider impact in Indian country.
Jacqueline Johnson, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians said that while the nation’s 500-plus tribes “understand the backdrop” of ethical abuses related to Abramoff’s representation of Indian tribes, many Indians “feel that there’s not, let us say, ‘fair play’ in the hearing process.”
A committee spokeswoman defended McCain’s handling of his chairmanship, arguing that the committee has considered some 30 pieces of legislation while also working with committees of jurisdiction on transportation, energy and domestic violence bills since McCain became chairman.
McCain has also addressed his critics’ concerns directly, saying during a February hearing on campaign finance rules governing Indian country, “I understand that there is a widespread fear in Indian Country of losing a seat at the political table. Tribes fear that just as they are beginning to more fully participate in the political process through campaign contributions, opposing interests have proposed reforms that could effectively exclude them. I understand these concerns, but feel it is appropriate to examine how and why tribes, which truly are unique entities, are treated the way they are … and whether the law should be changed.”
