FROM THE ARCHIVE

Republicans seek BIA reform

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DECEMBER 20, 2000

Citing a number of problems, including the failure of gaming to reduce poverty overall in Indian Country, two Republican members of Congress on Tuesday called on the incoming George W. Bush administration to reform "top to bottom" the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

"In light of serious questions about the credibility of the federal recognition process for Native American tribes, we are writing to request that the incoming Bush-Cheney Administration initiate a full-scale reform of the Bureau of Indian Affairs," wrote Representatives Frank Wolf (R-Virginia) and Christopher Shays (R-Conn) to Vice President-elect Dick Cheney.

Wolf and Shays held a press conference yesterday, detailing their latest foray into Indian affairs. Although neither has been seen taking an active role in Indian issues during their years in Congress, Wolf and Shays in recent months have begun calling for various investigations into Indian policy.

With the Republican party entering the White House, the two might hope to capitalize on the changing of the guard on Capitol Hill. But Wolf and Shays discounted the idea that partisan politics are responsible for their recent actions.

"I think the Indians have not been treated properly by this [Clinton] administration or, quite frankly, by the [Bush] administration," said Wolf.

Shays also pointed out that Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Attorney General who has come head-to-head with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Interior on a number of issues, is a Democrat.

Still, Wolf and Shays appear only to have fellow Republican lawmakers on their side. In September, they were joined by other GOP members of the House in calling for a full-scale investigation of the federal recognition process by the General Accounting Office (GAO).

Yesterday, the pair asked the GAO to expand their investigation to include allegations of criminal wrongdoing in the process.

Besides investigations and criticisms of Clinton appointees including BIA head Kevin Gover, Wolf and Shays themselves had little to offer in terms of reforms yesterday. Instead of gaming, to which he said he is opposed entirely, Wolf said would ask the new administration to support the development of enterprise, or empowerment, zones in Indian Country, a concept advocated and implemented by a Democratic administration.

President Bill Clinton touted the idea during his visit to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota in 1999, one of the nation's legislatively designated empowerment zones. With the passing of the budget last week, the White House lauded the "New Markets Initiative" as the success of bipartisan cooperation.

Shays yesterday said he supports the right of tribes to seek gaming, so long as tribes abide by regulations in seeking recognition or gaming. "If you go through process fair and square, I am going to support your right to have a gaming facility," he said.

Get the latest Wolf/Shays Correspondence:
Letter to Vice President-elect Cheney (Politics 12/20)
Letter to the General Accounting Office (Politics 12/20)

Get the White House Statement on the "New Markets Initiative":
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NEW MARKETS INITIATIVE: REVITALIZING AMERICA'S UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES (The White House 12/14)

Related Stories:
Republicans want gaming investigation (Money Matters 12/18)
Republicans call for BIA investigation (Tribal Law 09/22)
Virginia tribes: Recognition Yes, Casinos No (Tribal Law 09/19)
State joins Pequot appeal (Tribal Law 11/29)

Relevant Links:
Rep. Christopher Shays - www.house.gov/shays
Rep. Frank Wolf - www.house.gov/wolf