printer friendly version
Sen. Burns: Support for Montana tribes is known
Monday, April 18, 2005
"Let's get that record straight right now. In just the past two fiscal years, I have secured over $25 million in direct funding for the tribes, and tribally related projects in Montana. That doesn't include the increased funding to BIA programs that also have a direct impact on our seven reservations, including school replacement programs. Since taking over as chairman of Interior Appropriations, I have increased the tribal construction funding from $169 million in 2000 to over $320 million in 2005 to address the backlog of school replacement projects. With that funding, the Blackfeet and Northern Cheyenne tribes will have new schools completed by 2007.
In addition, I have been and continue to be a staunch supporter of tribal colleges. We have increased funding significantly over the past years, going from $38 million in 2000 to nearly $53 million in 2005. I have also been troubled by the "wealthy" tribe versus "poor" tribe argument set forth by my Democrat detractors. The federal government has a responsibility to uphold the tribal compacts, regardless of the financial means of the tribe. Bottom line is, we made a deal with the tribes, and we need to honor it.
Get the Story:
Sen. Conrad Burns: Accusations start negative campaign season
(The Billings Gazette 4/17)
Related Stories:
Burns says Michigan delegation backed school
funds (04/04)
Editorial: Burns has chance
to restore Indian funds (3/31)
Democrats
want Burns to return tribal donations (03/29)
Burns denies wrongdoing for helping Abramoff
client (03/24)
Chairman: Montana tribes
support Senator Burns (3/18)
Editorial:
Facts don't look good for Senator Burns (03/14)
Editorial: Burns needs better story on Abramoff
flap (3/8)
Firm offers $9M refund to
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe (3/7)
Editorial:
A 'Super Bowl' earmark for tribe (3/7)
Editorial: Burns 'enriched' by Abramoff and tribes
(3/7)
Horse Sense: Burns and Baucus
'cozy' with lobbyists (3/7)
Burns
promises cooperation with Abramoff probe (3/4)
Editorial: Who do you work for, Senator Burns?
(3/4)
Burns looking into Abramoff ties,
Dorgan denies link (3/2)
Burns, Dorgan
backed $3M grant for Abramoff client (3/1)
Tribal lobbying scandal hurts ex-Abramoff firm
(02/17)
Sag Chip recall targets
anti-Abramoff tribal leaders (02/11)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers
(11/18)
Documents detail lobbyists' role in
tribal elections (10/04)
More hearings
slated in tribal lobbyist scandal (09/30)
Senate hearing on tribal lobbying probe set
(8/26)
Saginaw Chippewa leader who paid
lobbyists ousted (06/04)
Indian Country
awaits outcome of lobbying probe (05/18)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe wonders where $14M went
(04/20)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe hires new
lobbying firm (03/09)
GOP
lobbyist scores big with tribes (04/03)
Embattled tribe gets new lobbyist
(12/13)
Copyright © 2000-2005 Indianz.Com
