Shirley wants to ring a few bells in Congress

Harold Morgan plugs his ear as he rings the bell outside of the Navajo Nation Tribal Council Chambers Monday morning, signaling the start of the council session in Window Rock, Ariz. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Things went downhill for Samson after he got a hair cut, but, now, with the Navajo Nation facing federal funding cuts President Joe Shirley Jr. hopes to avoid having the house come toppling down on the tribe.

Economic development loomed large as Shirley delivered his State of the Navajo Nation address on the opening day of the council's spring session.

"President Bush proposes to eliminate $109 million from the BIA," Shirley said. "This will have tremendous negative impact on the Navajo Nation in terms of providing direct services and providing contract services."

The federal cuts would eliminate Johnson-O'Malley funding, and force reductions in school construction projects and the Housing Improvement Program, the president said. There would also be cuts in social services, with Navajo losing $3.3 million in welfare assistance.

A task force, composed of people from affected divisions, will be convened to plan a strategic plan for more aggressive lobbying of Congress, Shirley said.

"During uncertain times like these, we must also look to ourselves to address our people's needs," Shirley said.

He outlined several projects that have potential to bring revenues to the nation, and to provide employment opportunities.

Working with the developer Chuska-Sahara, the Shiprock Office and Retail Complex planned for May will create 125 new, permanent jobs.

Another project the White Cone Commercial Center is waiting the BIA to approve its business site lease. That project includes a gas station, convenience store, laundry, post office and cafe, Shirley said.

Marina Village is expected to be completed in July. That project will have 61 full-time and 60 part-time employees.

Shirley also backed expansion plans by Raytheon and a proposal to build a 20,000-square-foot rubber glove manufacturing plant in Church Rock.

"Economic growth on the Navajo Nation depends, in large part, on the elimination of burdensome federal bureaucracy," Shirley said. One area the tribe is looking to fix is the business site lease rules. The nation has submitted a plan to the Department of the Interior for the tribe to determine its own site leases, Shirley said.

Now, projects routinely wait as long as four years for federal approval, Shirley said. There are currently 31 Navajo site leases awaiting federal action.

The tribe's Department of Justice concluded that the proposed egg plant could have a severe adverse impact on the nation, said delegate LoRenzo C. Bates (Upper Fruitland). "I'm surprised you support this despite DOJ's opinion."

Shirley disagreed with DOJ's opinion and said the three-phase project which would initially produce 145 million eggs would be done in such a way so as not to put the tribe's sovereignty in jeopardy.

Dayish dissed?
Perhaps the president's fiercest critic was delegate Katherine Benally (Dennehotso). She questioned the strained relationship between Shirley and Vice President Frank Dayish Jr.

"I read in the paper what the vice president claims he is doing, but is it a joint effort?" Benally asked. If you're working together, I don't see it."

When the president entered council chambers, people stood, as is custom. But the chamber was silent. Moments later, when Dayish appeared in the chambers he was greeted by rousing applause. Shirley did not respond to the Dayish question, at least not in English. He did speak Navajo when responding to several queries for delegates.

Delegate Curran Hannon (Oak Springs/St. Michaels) said Dayish should have been given time to address the council, too.

What is the executive branch doing about the expected budget cuts, Benally asked? She asked what Shirley would do to see that the Department on Aging received full funding and questioned why the department is being singled out for an audit.

He hopes the aging department receives full funding, Shirley replied. He said other departments were also being audited. "It's time we do right by our senior citizens," he said.

"I want something in writing," Benally said. She wants to see proof that Shirley asked for other departments to be audited, too.

Calling B.S.
Shirley said the Fairness in Appropriation Act, sponsored by delegate Ernest Yazzie Jr. (Breadsprings/Church Rock), would also harm many people. Yazzie's bill would take 5 percent of the executive branch's funding and give it to the judicial branch, Shirley said.

"He's blaming my legislation that's (B.S.)," Yazzie said during a break for lunch. "Everybody knows even my dog that this legislation was vetoed."

Since there is a good chance that the social services department will lose $3.3 million, the directors should be working on contingency plans now, said delegate Francis Redhouse (Teecnospos).

"It appears they need for someone else to do their jobs," he added. Hannon also said many people were outraged by the surcharge the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority said it needed to offset lost income from mine closings.

"I find your proposal offensive, to give $1 million to NTUA," said delegate Lorenzo Curley (Houck/Lupton/Nahatadziil). "We consider NTUA to be a private corporation, they're in it to make money; yet they can't support themselves. They're addicted to Navajo money. I'm very disappointed."

"I feel that's a bandage approach," delegate Leonard Chee (Birdsprings/Leupp/Tolani) said about giving NTUA $1 million from the Undesignated, Unreserved Fund. "We can't keep dishing out money."

Benally also wondered about the president approving taking $175,000 from Veterans Affairs and loaning it to the Rock Springs Chapter.

"Where does it say the president has the authority to move money from one account to another?" asked Benally. "Isn't that an ethics violation?"

Legislative counsel said the president is allowed to move money in limited circumstances.

Council's spring session continues today at 10 a.m.

John Christian Hopkins can be reached at 1-505-371-5443, or by email at Hopkins1960@hotmail.com.