FROM THE ARCHIVE
Swimmer to pick 'cronies' for advisory board
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MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2003 Ross Swimmer has yet to advance an "honest, solid proposal" to reform the broken Indian trust, a key tribal leader told The Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Gregg Bourland, the former long-time chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and a founding member of the Intertribal Monitoring Association, said he opposed Swimmer's confirmation special trustee at the Department of Interior. With Swimmer, "it always seemed the Indian got the short end of the stick," he told the paper. Bourland used to sit on an advisory board of Indian leaders and trust experts. But the 2003 omnibus appropriations act authorizes Swimmer to select new advisers. "The word is we're all going to be replaced with hand-picked cronies of Ross Swimmer," Bourland said. "That's unfortunate. We were not there to agree with the special trustee. It is our job to advise him about our concerns with the system. We were a sounding board for the trustee." Swimmer was confirmed by the Senate last week. The vote was 72-24, the first time in history that an Indian affairs nominee has not been unanimously confirmed. Get the Story:
Nominee OK'd as trustee for Indian money (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 4/12)
Bush pick to manage trusts for American Indians OK'd (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 4/12)
Senators oppose Indian fund special trustee (The Rapid City Journal 4/13) Roll Call:
Senate Vote on Ross O. Swimmer (April 10, 2003) Relevant Links:
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com Related Stories:
Ross Swimmer confirmed as special trustee (4/11)
Slonaker doesn't want to fire advisers (07/26)
Spending bill keeps provisions affecting Cobell (02/14)
Swimmer still not confirmed as special trustee (4/7)
Senate panel approves Ross Swimmer nomination (03/06)
Swimmer says role in trust reform not conflicted (3/5)
Senate committee to take up Ross Swimmer again (3/4)
Daschle statement in opposition to Swimmer (3/4)
Senate committee to take up Ross Swimmer again (3/4)
Swimmer confirmation delayed (2/27)
DOI says Swimmer ready to answer questions (2/27)
Campbell asked to delay vote on Ross Swimmer (2/26)
Senate panel eager to confirm Swimmer as trustee (02/13)
Swimmer can't recall Navajo involvement (02/13)
Swimmer says he will be independent trustee (02/13)
Swimmer spoof rings true for some (2/12)
Swimmer slow to recall Reagan era 'fallout' (01/17)
Swimmer was promised BITAM job (1/16)
Tribes moving to oppose Swimmer nomination (01/06)
Unfit officials stick it to Indians again (12/09)
A super assistant secretary, in all but name (05/03)
Swimmer legacy still haunts BIA (02/12)
Reagan's Indian chief is back (11/20)
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