The Indian Healthcare Bill, called "
morally bankrupt" by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), because of what he views as more empty promises to Native Americans, has passed the Senate, and is now in the House. It includes an official apology to the Native Americans, authored by Sam Brownback (R-KS) and supported by Representative Dan Boren (D-OK).
Tribal members wonder if it, too, will be full of empty promises, according to
News from Indian Country:
Jim Gray, Osage Nation principal chief, said he was surprised but glad Boren championed the effort.
“After the broken treaties and broken promises over all these years, I certainly didn’t expect to see that in my lifetime,” Gray said.
A Tulsa attorney who specializes in Indian law, Michael McBride, agreed the measure was overdue, but he wondered about current factors that may have prompted the official apology.
“I just hope that the United States would do more to rectify prior injustices, like appropriations to address the mismanagement of trust funds, that would go a long way towards making the apology have real substance,” he said.
Labels: Rep. Dan Boren, Tom Coburn, Tribal News
Posted at 3/17/2008 11:04:00 AM
