The Senate failed to action action on the $3.4 billion settlement to the Indian trust fund lawsuit after Republicans objected.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, was responsible for the latest roadblock. He raised concerns about the $1.4 billion settlement for African-American farmers, which was grouped with Cobell as part of a unanimous consent request.

“Senator Coburn is the just the latest face of what appears to be an intentional effort by Republicans to deny justice to black farmers and Native American trust account holders. Their opposition is a transparent sham," an aide to Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada), the Senate majority leader, said in a statement.

"Every time we are close to a bipartisan agreement that would disburse court-approved settlements to these Americans who were denied earnings they deserve due to discrimination and mismanagement, Republicans yank the rug from under them by conjuring up a new reason to object," the statement continued. "If Republicans are fundamentally opposed to ending this injustice for black farmers and Native American trust account holders, they should at least have the courage to say so and stop playing games with this critical issue.”

The Cobell plaintiffs and the Obama administration had set an October 15 deadline to wait for Congressional approval.

Get the Story:
Reid aide assails GOP on 'injustice' (Politico 9/29)
No vote from US Senate on Indian trust settlement (AP 9/29)

Cobell Settlement Documents:
Agreement | Press Release | Q&A | Audio

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