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MARCH 16, 2001

Rejecting the advice of the Montana State Legislature's chief attorney, the House on Thursday voted 57-42 to lower the amount of money the state pays to the Crow Tribe every year.

The overall amount the state owes the tribe as the result of a water and coal tax settlement isn't exepcted to be decreased. The state in 1999 agreed to pay a total of $15 million over 15 years to the tribe.

For the past two years, the tribe has received $1.5 million a year. In an effort to save money, the House voted to lower the payment to $500,000 for the next two years.

The tribe itself hasn't ratified the payment agreement with the state.

Get the Story:
House would lower Crow water rights agreement payments (AP 3/16)