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Montana Governor Gianforte vetoes two Indian bills



Don’t know why we are so surprised, but Gianforte, the extremely conservative “Trumpeter-style” Governor of Montana has vetoed two bills important to tribal people.

Most people in Montana assume that tribal people are a financial drain on the state, needing welfare, food stamps and other benefits.  However, they fail to consider the amount of federal funding which is transferred to the State to take care of those things. It even includes programs such as Medicaid expansion; public housing; SNAP benefits and so forth which are available to all Montana citizens.

Yet, when tribal people on Reservations get paid, both from assistance and tribal payrolls, what do they do?  Head to the nearest big town, hit Walmart, go out to eat, maybe get a motel room; go to the movies, etc., buy a questionable rig from “Berries Cherries” or other such joints. Native people contribute a lot to the economies of nearby towns.  And you can triple that when a basketball tournament, rodeo, Indian relay race, pow wows or such events are held. Often, the local merchants jack up the prices when such events are held, injecting a lot into the local economy.

Both bills had been authored by State Representative Jonathon Windy Boy, Chippewa Cree from the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. As to the vetoes, Windy Boy laughed, “I guess this is his way of saying he wants to pick a fight with me. He might have one coming,” Windy Boy confirmed.

The first was HB 797 which passed by nearly unanimous margins in both the House and Senate.  It would have required the State to prepare a financial report on how much income comes to the State related to tribal people.  Recently, Elinore Yellow Robe, a graduate student compiled a report indicating that more than a billion dollars per year is allocated for the eight federally recognized Tribes in MT. Of course, that report has only academic standing.

HB 5 included two million in earmarks for tribal projects, also vetoed.  One million was to renovate a tribal community cultural center and the other million would have supported a language immersion school. Gianforte apparently favors charter schools, just not the Indian ones.

“In my 21 years and 11 sessions, I had only two veto actions,” Windy Boy stressed. 

For example, the state HHS receives federal dollars that first goes through the state, which then distributes the money to the tribes, The state holds back 15% administrative fees to provide a service, then in turn reports back to the feds.

If the HHS receives $1 million dollars, the State retains 15% of that for administrative fees – $150,000 dollars, hiring additional staff to do the paperwork. That’s only one agency. The tribes would be interested to see what the state reports back to the feds, on the service they’re supposed to provide to the tribes. 

Another example, one tribe has 15 contracts with HHS. They are in the dark of this and the reports of the services, let alone the 15% admin fee on those contracts. Can you imagine how much of this the state holds back, not revealing to the tribes what services the state is supposed provide and the reports they send back to the feds? Can you imagine how many years and decades this has gone on?

On top of that, the tribes also collect administrative fees.  So, it is safe to say that only about 70% of the funds allocated for Indians are available for services.  In the meantime, the various governments lick up the gravy.

The Governors reason for the Veto, was because of the unique Government to Government Consultation, and the additional workload on his staff. He will not reveal any of this information to the tribes until they call him on it.

“HB 797 passed the legislature 98-0 in the House, 50-0 in the Senate. To have this accountability the veto is ludicrous,” Windy Boy noted.

“There is a chance for a veto override, a telephone poll of legislators is now going on,” Windy Boy said. “Let’s wait and see what the results of the veto override. Otherwise, this may be good grounds for a tribal class action lawsuit. I’m willing to be the lead plaintiff and who knows who would be willing to sign on and join. We have putting up with this b.s. for too long.”  Clara (Contact Caufield at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

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