Politics

NCAI blames Republicans for blocking Indian bills

Monday, July 30, 2007

A small group of Republican senators has repeatedly blocked Indian bills from passage, the National Congress of American Indians said on Friday.

The Senate Republican Steering Committee has put secret holds on everything from Indian health care to methamphetamine funding to amendments to the Adam Walsh Act. NCAI President Joe Garcia tribes are shocked by the obstructionism.

"At first we thought that it was coincidence that so many bills on Native issues were being blocked by members of the Republican Steering Committee," Garcia said. "But it is clear now that it is not."

Garcia said NCAI will work to resolve the stalemate. " It is a very small number of Republican Senators, but we must address this obstructionism that stops all legislation no matter how bi-partisan and non-controversial," he said.

The Senate Republican Steering Committee is composed of some of the most conservative Republicans. The group is led by Sen. James DeMint (R-South Carolina) and its members include Sens. John Kyl (R-Arizona), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama).

Relevant Links:
National Congress of American Indians - http://www.ncai.org
Senate Republican Conference - http://src.senate.gov