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Norton says White House behind trust fund rider
Monday, November 3, 2003

The White House worked directly with members to Congress on language to delay a court-ordered accounting of the Indian trust, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton said.

Norton said the Department of Interior was deliberately kept in the dark about the provision. "In fact, the first I saw of the appropriations committee language was after it had been adopted by the committee," she told the Associated Press.

In response to the rider, several lawmakers, including Reps. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.), J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), tried to defeat the bill but fell several votes short. The House passed it on Thursday by a vote of 216-205.

The Senate is set to take up the measure this afternoon.

Get the Story:
Norton disavows move to block Indian accounting (AP 11/1)

Roll Call:
On Motion to Recommit the Conference Report | On Agreeing to the Conference Report

Conference Committee Report:
House Report. 108-330 | PDF Version

DOI Budget Bills:
H.R.2691 | H.Rept.108-195 | S.1391 | S.Rept.108-89

Relevant Bills:
Campbell: Indian Money Account Claim Satisfaction Act of 2003 (S.1770) | Daschle: Indian Trust Payment Equity Act of 2003 (S.1540)

Congressional Native American Caucus Letter:
J.D. Hayworth/Dale Kildee (October 17, 2003)

Court Decisions:
Historical Accounting | Fixing the System | Structural Injunction

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust

Related Stories:
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Editorial: Pombo 'embarrassed' top House leaders (10/31)
Carson and Cole argue against trust fund rider (10/31)
Battle brews in House over DOI budget bill (10/30)
Cobell rallies support for trust fund case (10/28)
DOI bill halts Indian trust fund case (10/24)
Bill targets Indian trust fund suit (10/22)
House chairman supports self-governance rider (10/14)
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Lamberth lays out future of Indian trust reform (09/26)
Court report finds undervaluation of Navajo lands (08/21)
Administration eyes consolidation of Indian appraisals (08/15)
Tally for private attorney fees in Cobell case rises (07/24)
Congress hacks Bush's accounting funds (7/16)
Swimmer partly right on trust fund rider (7/14)
Bush official balks at large settlement for Cobell (7/10)
On trust, lawmakers take Bush officials at face value (06/25)
Private attorneys reap benefits on Cobell case (06/24)
Norton offered settlement funds for IIM trust (6/20)
Lamberth criticizes interference with trust fund case (05/22)
Bush administration turns to Congress on trust (04/04)

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