Obama administration seen as boost for Indian Country

Politics

Friday, November 21, 2008

Indian Country stands to gain from the "historic" election of Barack Obama as president, Washington insiders said on Thursday.

Though Obama is still putting his team together, the picks that have emerged so far are favorable to tribes. Former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle, for Health and Human Services, and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D), for Homeland Security, have first-hand experience with the issues facing American Indians and Alaska Natives.

"We're very excited about the new administration," said Mark van Norman, the executive director of the National Indian Gaming Association, on the final day of the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.

Larry Rosenthal, a partner with the Ietan Consulting lobbying firm, was an early supporter of Obama. He said the Democratic candidate reached out to tribes early on in the campaign and won them over with overarching pledges to respect tribal sovereignty and the government-to-government relationship.

"I think this election is going to have a profound impact on Indian Country," said Rosenthal.

Tom Brierton, a lobbyist with Republican ties, said tribes were among the "winners" in the election. But he warned of potential conflicts with labor unions and environmental groups, two strong Democratic constituencies.

"The proof is going to be in the pudding," to see how Obama works with the Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate, said Brierton, a former Congressional staffer.

Since the launch of Obama's transition team, no names have surfaced for some of the most important posts at the Interior Department. The new president will get to appoint a Secretary, an Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, a Special Trustee for American Indians and the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. All of the posts require Senate confirmation.

Rosenthal, who is in contact with Democratic leaders in Washington, declined to mention people who might be up for those posts. But he told conference attendees to expect strong advocates for tribal rights.

"The names I've heard are people you're familiar with," he said.

Obama's transition team at Interior includes three prominent Indian attorneys. John Echohawk (Pawnee), the executive director of the Native American Rights Fund; Keith Harper (Cherokee), a co-counsel in the landmark Indian trust fund lawsuit and a former NARF staffer; and Robert Anderson (Bois Forte), another NARF attorney, are advising the new administration on key tribal matters.

One area of concern involves the Office of the Solicitor, which provides legal advice at Interior. Recently, Solicitor David Bernhardt, a Bush nominee, converted six deputy posts from political to career status, a move that might make it harder for the Obama administration to develop its team.

One of those conversions was the Associate Solicitor for Indian Affairs, Rosenthal said yesterday. But he predicted the change wouldn't last and that Obama would be able to appoint a new person for the post, which doesn't require Senate confirmation.

For other federal agencies, important posts include the director of the Indian Health Service. and the director of the Administration for Native Americans. Both would serve under Daschle if he is nominated and confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Over at the Department of Education, the Obama administration will be able to choose the director of the Office of Indian Education. There are key posts to be filed at the Office of Tribal Justice and the Office of Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice as well.