New York Gov. George Pataki (R) has joined local and state politicians in opposing the Oneida Nation's trust land application.

Pataki's legal counsel says the land-into-trust process was meant to help poorer tribes. But the same argument has been rejected by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes New York.

The tribe has asked for more than 17,000 acres in two counties to be placed in trust. The tribe acted after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last March that the tribe has to go through the land-into-trust process before claiming sovereignty on its properties.

The decision prompted local governments to seek back property taxes from the tribe. A federal judge has since blocked one county from foreclosing on the tribe's land.

Get the Story:
N.Y. governor denies Oneida request for federal trust for land (The Appleton Post-Crescent 1/31)
Pataki opposes federal trust for Oneida land (AP 1/30)
Counties and Oneida Nation back in court (The Syracuse Post-Standard 1/31)

Relevant Links:
Oneida Nation, New York - http://www.oneida-nation.net

Sherrill v. Oneida Nation Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Souter] | Dissent [Stevens]

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