Members of Congress were told last week they must simply pick a number to settle the Cobell v. Norton trust fund lawsuit.

Experts at a joint House-Senate hearing said it would be futile to pick a number based on an examination of the accounts or other methodologies. "Ultimately, this is an arbitrary solution," said John Bickerman, who had been appointed by Congress to try and mediate a settlement.

Although the experts didn't come forward with an exact number, they said it should be in the billions. The Cobell plaintiffs are also seeking billions, but the Bush administration says individual Indians are owed far less, perhaps in the low millions.

Get the Story:
Indian Claims: Pull a Number From a Hat? (The Washington Post 3/8)
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Trust Reform Legislation:
S.1439 | H.R.4322

Elouise Cobell Letter:
Dear Lawmakers (February 23, 2006)

Jim Cason Letter:
Dear Tribal Leader (January 26, 2006)

Cobell Court Fees:
Memorandum and Order (December 19, 2005)

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
National Congress of American Indians - http://www.ncai.org
Intertribal Trust Fund Monitoring Association - http://www.itmatrustfunds.org

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