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TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2001

For Neal McCaleb, running the Bureau of Indian Affairs is all about the benjamins because his top priority is spurring development in Indian Country.

To further that goal, he is thinking about holding a summit on energy opportunities. Investments have been made in gaming, so why not energy, he says in an interview with The Washington Post.

The summit might fit well with the Bush administration's push to increase domestic energy production. A number of tribal leaders, mostly those in the Plains states, have also expressed a willingness to exploit their natural resources.

McCaleb was once a Democrat and formed an Indian group with LaDonna Harris. But then he converted to Republicanism because he believed the free market was the key to economic success. He tells The Post he he became an "apostle" for the free market.

In an interview with Indian Country Today, McCaleb points to a report he helped author for President Ronald Reagan. While tribal leaders overwhelmingly rejected most of the report's recommendations, he stands by them, particularly ones about outside investment.

Get the Story:
At BIA, Seeking More For Tribes to Bet On (The Washington Post 7/24)
McCaleb came prepared to work (Indian Country Today 7/25)

Related Stories:
Its the economy, McCaleb (7/23)
Neal McCaleb in Review (7/23)
At BIA, McCaleb takes on the system (7/20)
McCaleb pushes role as evangelist (7/19)