The late Elouise Cobell meets President Barack Obama at the White House. December 8, 2010. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

A bill to create a day in honor of the late Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Nation who was the lead plaintiff in the Indian trust fund litigation was tabled on Tuesday.

Friends and family spoke in support of declaring November 5 as Elouise Cobell Day, Western Native Voice said on Facebook. Yet the Senate State Administration Committee voted down Senate Bill 388 without a clear explanation, The Helena Independent Record reported.

A second bill to name a center in honor of former First Lady Betty Babcock was also tabled, the paper said. Both measures happened to be sponsored by Democrats -- Sen. Dee Brown (R), the chairman of the committee, said “a link is missing in this discussion" but did not elaborate, the paper added.

Cobell, who died in 2011, was born on November 5, 1945. Western Native Voice said supporters will look for another way to advance the measure.

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Bill to name heritage center after Betty Babcock dies in committee (The Helena Independent Record 2/25)