Council spending spree fails
Rehoboth school loses bid for funds

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — As another long day neared its end, the Navajo Nation's council chambers started to resemble a TV game show.

A bill to award $150,000 to the Rehoboth Christian School was sailing along smoothly when the room seemed to turn in a frantic mirage of "Wheel of Fortune."

It began when delegate Ervin M. Keeswood Sr. (Hogback) added four amendments for supplemental appropriations for discretionary funds. Among his proposals were $500,000 for the gaming regulatory office, nearly $470,000 for grazing committee members, $120,000 for the Eastern Land Board and $665,000 for the legislative and executive branches, that included $5,000 per delegate to bring back to their chapters. Keeswood also proposed $300,000 for the office of president and vice president, to be divided equally.

"What's the president going to do with this money, and will he follow the procurement act?" asked delegate Katherine Benally (Dennehotso). "We all know in past years he didn't."

Delegate Johnny Naize (Tselani/Cottonwood/Nazlini) said the council was wasting time adding a bunch of riders to a bill that wasn't going to pass.

"These riders, we add them on at the last minute and there's no discussion," argued delegate Raymond Maxx (Coalmine Canyon/Toh Nanees Dizi). "It's the wrong way to allocate funds. It's also a shortcut, jumping on other people's legislation."

"I'm rather disturbed by my colleague from Hogback," said delegate Jerry Bodie (Sanostee). He said that Keeswood was usually adamant about having all the proper paperwork and signatures in place before voting on a bill, but was now offering amendments without proper documentation.

"I don't understand my colleague," Keeswood responded. "He's trying to destroy all the good intent."

Delegate Bennie Shelly (Thoreau), chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, said B & F was willing to hold hearings on any supplemental funding requests; however, deciding the price was right, delegates quickly approved all of Keeswood's riders.

Emboldened by the sweet music of Keeswood's triumph, delegate Norman John II (Twin Lakes) decided he could name that tune, too. He introduced an amendment to provide $2 million to the Din Power Authority.

"This particular amendment I object to for many reasons," said delegate Francis Redhouse (Teecnospos). "I'd rather see the $2 million go to the judicial branch."

Just before the spending spree began, council had deleted a request for $2.9 million for judicial.

Delegate LoRenzo Bates (Upper Fruitland) said too many amendments were being added. "Up until this point you had my green," he said. When voting, a green light signals approval; red is denial. "You had my green, now I'm going red."

Bates urged John to withdraw his amendment and submit it through proper channels and allow for public hearings. John declined, and the amendment passed as did his second one calling for $113,000 for the animal control program.

Then delegate Hope MacDonald-Lonetree (Coalmine Canyon/Toh Nanees Dizi) got in on the match game. She proposed taking $200,000 from the unreserved, undesignated fund and splitting it between the Public Safety and Transportation and Community Development committees.

"If we go this route with this amendment, we're proving our ineffectiveness," said delegate Duane Tsinigine (Bodaway Gap/Cameron/Coppermine). "We're here to legislate where's the legislation?"

MacDonald-Lonetree's measure beat the clock and was approved.

But, then, delegate Ray Berchman (Oak Springs/St. Michaels) put the whole funding bill in jeopardy but offering an amendment to give the judicial branch $2.9 million.

"Can someone calculate the amount we're taking?" asked Katherine Benally. "Are we operating at a deficit?"

The sudden spending spree for the nine added amendments totaled $7,479,903.89.

When it came time to vote on the main motion the $150,000 for the Rehoboth Christian School and the nine amendments, the entire bill was voted down.

"We went shopping, but the cart fell apart before we got to the car!" said delegate Harold Wauneka (Fort Defiance).

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