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Norton using rider to seek stay of Cobell case
Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton is using a new appropriations rider to delay the Indian trust fund case.

Government attorneys say the rider, contained in the Department of Interior's spending bill that President Bush signed into law on Monday, protects them from a court order that requires an accounting of at least $13 billion in Indian funds.

The rider only references the historical accounting but Norton's attorneys say it protects them from another part of the court order that calls for changes in how Indian trust assets are managed. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth on September 25 said he was going to appoint a judicial monitor to ensure the federal government was meeting its trust responsibilities.

Get the Story:
Indian land audit faces court test (AP 11/12)

DOI Budget Bill:
H.R.2691

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

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President Bush 'on the hook' for trust fund delays (11/5)
Norton testimony sought by plaintiffs in trust case (11/5)
Tribal company's work on trust accounting on hold (11/5)
Editorial: White House actions on trust 'contemptible' (11/7)
Norton welcomes time-out in Cobell trust fund case (11/4)
Norton appealing Indian trust fund ruling (11/3)
Norton says White House behind trust fund rider (11/3)
House approves trust fund rider in DOI bill (10/31)
Campbell pushes action on trust fund suit (10/30)
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)
Self-governance tribes fear impact of reorganization (10/09)
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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