Post by Okwes on Jul 7, 2007 11:29:23 GMT -5
$7B Settlement Proposed in Indian Case
Wednesday March 7, 2007 5:01 AM
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
www.topix.net/r/0KFyLsDRBNAS3UPwUns76121UVWYey4PA25IC3NgC6RVmzKCo\
44nNTTMuyULqWRY=2FgsfBATQg4pZ=2FMfxvcWcyt1ifZi2gyrqyETgHG0ltwYseA=2BF4zi\
D2U9CKbZFOzICX
<http://www.topix.net/r/0KFyLsDRBNAS3UPwUns76121UVWYey4PA25IC3NgC6RVmzKC\
o44nNTTMuyULqWRY=2FgsfBATQg4pZ=2FMfxvcWcyt1ifZi2gyrqyETgHG0ltwYseA=2BF4z\
iD2U9CKbZFOzICX>
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. government has proposed paying $7 billion
partly to settle lawsuits over the management of Indian trust lands - an
offer met with immediate objections from Indian plaintiffs.
At issue is a decade-old lawsuit by Indians against the government
claiming that the government has mismanaged more than $100 billion in
oil, gas, timber and other royalties held in trust from their lands
dating back to 1887.
The litigation, filed in 1996 by Blackfeet Indian Elouise Cobell, deals
with individual Indians' lands. Several tribes have also sued, claiming
mismanagement of their lands.
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he
will hold hearings on the proposal and said the settlement offer is the
first time the federal government has acknowledged a multibillion dollar
liability for mismanagement of the trust funds over the past century.
``That is a significant admission,'' Dorgan said, adding that he
believes the conditions attached to the settlement offer will be
controversial.
Associate Deputy Interior Secretary James Cason, who has overseen Indian
issues in past years, took issue with Dorgan's words. He said the
proposal is not an admission but a ``recognition that where we are right
now is not very productive.''
Cobell and one of her attorneys, Keith Harper, said the Interior
Department is asking for too much.
Under the terms of the offer, the government would pay $7 billion over
ten years, without interest. In exchange for the money, all tribal and
individual mismanagement claims against the government would be dropped
and the government would be relieved of future liability.
The proposal would also end, over a period of 10 years, most of the
government's responsibilities to manage Indian trust lands and would
consolidate ownership of Indian lands, which are now often held by many
people.
Cason said roughly half of the $7 billion would go toward settling
individual and tribal claims, with the remainder covering other parts of
the proposal.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
sent the proposal to Dorgan last week, saying they strongly support
comprehensive legislation that would help the parties move ``from a
litigation-oriented relationship to one of economic prosperity,
empowerment and self-reliance for tribes and individual Indians.''
Harper said the proposal is an insult.
``There's no sum specific for how much is going to be used for Cobell,''
he said. ``It's pennies on the dollar.''
He said the plaintiffs estimate the government's liability could exceed
$100 billion, though they have in the past considered settling for less.
Cobell said the government is trying to do too much at once.
``It's not fair to throw every problem that exists in Indian country
that has been created by the Department of Interior into our lawsuit,''
she said. ``This lawsuit is about individual Indians and accounting.''
Interior Department spokesman Shane Wolfe said the department looks
forward to working with Congress on the proposal. Congress has attempted
to wade into the dispute in recent years, but has yet to find
resolution.
``We believe this proposal looks to the future,'' he said.
Wednesday March 7, 2007 5:01 AM
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
www.topix.net/r/0KFyLsDRBNAS3UPwUns76121UVWYey4PA25IC3NgC6RVmzKCo\
44nNTTMuyULqWRY=2FgsfBATQg4pZ=2FMfxvcWcyt1ifZi2gyrqyETgHG0ltwYseA=2BF4zi\
D2U9CKbZFOzICX
<http://www.topix.net/r/0KFyLsDRBNAS3UPwUns76121UVWYey4PA25IC3NgC6RVmzKC\
o44nNTTMuyULqWRY=2FgsfBATQg4pZ=2FMfxvcWcyt1ifZi2gyrqyETgHG0ltwYseA=2BF4z\
iD2U9CKbZFOzICX>
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. government has proposed paying $7 billion
partly to settle lawsuits over the management of Indian trust lands - an
offer met with immediate objections from Indian plaintiffs.
At issue is a decade-old lawsuit by Indians against the government
claiming that the government has mismanaged more than $100 billion in
oil, gas, timber and other royalties held in trust from their lands
dating back to 1887.
The litigation, filed in 1996 by Blackfeet Indian Elouise Cobell, deals
with individual Indians' lands. Several tribes have also sued, claiming
mismanagement of their lands.
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he
will hold hearings on the proposal and said the settlement offer is the
first time the federal government has acknowledged a multibillion dollar
liability for mismanagement of the trust funds over the past century.
``That is a significant admission,'' Dorgan said, adding that he
believes the conditions attached to the settlement offer will be
controversial.
Associate Deputy Interior Secretary James Cason, who has overseen Indian
issues in past years, took issue with Dorgan's words. He said the
proposal is not an admission but a ``recognition that where we are right
now is not very productive.''
Cobell and one of her attorneys, Keith Harper, said the Interior
Department is asking for too much.
Under the terms of the offer, the government would pay $7 billion over
ten years, without interest. In exchange for the money, all tribal and
individual mismanagement claims against the government would be dropped
and the government would be relieved of future liability.
The proposal would also end, over a period of 10 years, most of the
government's responsibilities to manage Indian trust lands and would
consolidate ownership of Indian lands, which are now often held by many
people.
Cason said roughly half of the $7 billion would go toward settling
individual and tribal claims, with the remainder covering other parts of
the proposal.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
sent the proposal to Dorgan last week, saying they strongly support
comprehensive legislation that would help the parties move ``from a
litigation-oriented relationship to one of economic prosperity,
empowerment and self-reliance for tribes and individual Indians.''
Harper said the proposal is an insult.
``There's no sum specific for how much is going to be used for Cobell,''
he said. ``It's pennies on the dollar.''
He said the plaintiffs estimate the government's liability could exceed
$100 billion, though they have in the past considered settling for less.
Cobell said the government is trying to do too much at once.
``It's not fair to throw every problem that exists in Indian country
that has been created by the Department of Interior into our lawsuit,''
she said. ``This lawsuit is about individual Indians and accounting.''
Interior Department spokesman Shane Wolfe said the department looks
forward to working with Congress on the proposal. Congress has attempted
to wade into the dispute in recent years, but has yet to find
resolution.
``We believe this proposal looks to the future,'' he said.