Angry House Democrats Stage Walkout

Angry House Democrats today walked out of the chamber to protest the refusal of Republican committee chairmen to allow those with whom they disagree to speak.

Rep. Chuck Hoskin, head of the House Democratic caucus, said it was bad enough that members of the public were not allowed to speak, but elected representatives also are being denied the right to ask questions in committee and on the floor.

Thursday morning, Rep. James Covey, D-Custer City, asked to be recognized on the House floor because he wanted to speak with House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, about how committee meetings are being conducted. But he was not recognized.

"That was the straw that broke the camel's back," said Rep. Eric Proctor, D-Tulsa.

House Minority Leader Danny Morgan, D-Prague, huddled with Benge and others in the speaker's office. Morgan said Benge agreed to review committee rules and will have an answer on Monday.

Morgan (pictured) said his members also are angry over the the refusal by Rep. Ron Peterson, R-Broken Arrow, to let supporters of a measure that would require insurance companies to cover costs associated with autism speak before his committee.

About 30 supporters showed up the past two weeks to speak to Peterson's committee, but Peterson killed the measure and denied supporters a chance to speak.

Last week Chad Smith, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, was not allowed to speak before a House committee that took up a bill that would make English the official language of the state. The chairman of that committee, Rep. Guy Liebmann, R-Oklahoma City, restricted comments to House members. The measure passed out of committee and is awaiting action on the House floor. House Speaker Chris Benge later apologized to Smith and said he should have been allowed to speak.

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Tribes Officially Oppose English-only Bill

From www.tulsaworld.com ~ A joint council of Cherokee tribes today spurned English-only legislation that is moving through the Oklahoma legislature.

The Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians passed a resolution opposing the would-be law during a meeting at the Cherokee Nation Casino and Resort in Catoosa.

"(T)he Official English policy brands Oklahoma as intolerant, closed-minded, hard-hearted, mean-spirited and oppressive to minority groups..." the resolution stated.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith, who was barred from speaking during state committee meetings regarding the legislation, blasted the proposed law during the standing-room only meeting Wednesday.

Read this entire story at www.tulsaworld.com.

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Senate Honors Cherokee Nation, Chief Smith

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith and his wife Bobbi were honored by the State Senate on Thursday as part of the 8th annual Cherokee Nation Legislative Day at the State Capitol.

Senator Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah, introduced Smith and credited him and the Cherokee Nation for partnering with the state on a variety of projects including education, healthcare and transportation.

“The Cherokee Nation is the largest employer in the northeastern part of the state with over 6,000 employees,” Wilson said. “They have partnered with the state and other counties on projects that are helping to improve the lives of all Oklahomans. Chief Smith and the rest of the Cherokee Nation leadership should be congratulated for their accomplishments and continued hard work.”

The Cherokee Nation is the second largest tribe in the United States and the largest tribe in Oklahoma with over 160,000 tribal members living in the state. The tribe has annual expenditures in excess of $450 million.

Wilson said the Cherokee Nation has continued to make contributions through its partnerships with the state. A portion of the Cherokee Nation’s gaming revenue goes to the state to help fund educational and compulsive gambling programs. In 2007, Oklahoma received $11.5 million in gaming proceeds from the tribe. Wilson added that in 2006, the Cherokee Nation partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to repair eight bridges in six counties throughout northeastern Oklahoma.

Smith told the Senate that education plays a key role in the success of the Cherokee Nation. He said Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah is home to 12 Gates Scholars and offers college prep courses as well as concurrent enrollment with Northeastern Oklahoma State University. In 2006, Sequoyah students earned more than $500,000 in scholarships. Since 2002, the tribe has funded over 10,000 scholarships.

In 2007, the Cherokee Nation donated $1.5 million to the University Of Oklahoma College Of Medicine to help address cancer and diabetes. It currently has four health care facilities under construction located in Muskogee, Sequoyah, Nowata and Cherokee Counties, representing a $35.5 million commitment to the people and local economies.

“We believe in coming together and working together for the benefit of our communities,” Smith said. “That’s why we have developed partnerships with our counties and cities in the state. We now serve 126,000 Indians with healthcare. We have helped build with county commissioners 500 miles of roads in rural areas and we have helped with education, healthcare and social services.”

Wilson added that in addition to the Cherokee Nation’s financial commitment to the state of Oklahoma, “The tribe has made innumerable contributions to the state’s culture, heritage and pride. Oklahoma is identified nationwide as Native America. That wouldn’t be possible without the contributions of the Cherokee Nation.”

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Benge Apologizes To Cherokee Chief, Says Liebmann Action 'Unfortunate'

From The Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ The speaker of the House said Thursday that he has apologized to the chief of the Cherokee Nation after he was prohibited from speaking against a bill to make English the state's official language.

Speaker Chris Benge (pictured), himself a member of the Cherokee tribe, said it was unfortunate that Chief Chad Smith did not get a chance to speak before the bill was approved Wednesday by the House General Government and Transportation Committee.

"I did express to him it was unfortunate he was not able to express his opinion," Benge said.

Committee Chairman Guy Liebmann, R-Oklahoma City, declared Wednesday that the gathering was not a public meeting and denied requests from two Democratic lawmakers that Smith be allowed to speak.

At one point, Liebmann said to the chief: "If you don't be quiet, I'm going to have to call somebody to put you out. I'm sorry."

The chief (at right) said he wanted to tell the committee that Cherokees strongly oppose assimilation because the tribe is clearly a separate nation.

Benge said that Liebmann did have the discretion of prohibiting public comment, but "I'd err on the side of making (committee meetings) as public as possible."

The committee approved the bill calling for a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment requiring that all official state government business be conducted in English. It now moves to consideration in the full House.

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Chad Smith Reelected Cherokee Nation Chief

Chad Smith was elected to a third term as chief of the Cherokee Nation on Saturday as the tribe deals with controversy surrounding a vote to rescind the tribal membership of the descendants of its slaves. With more than 13,600 ballots counted, Smith had won 58.8 percent of the vote, while his opponent, former Cherokee Supreme Court Justice Stacy Leeds, received 41.2 percent. Smith was elected chief in 1999 and re-elected in 2003.

Chad Smith and wife image courtesy Cherokee Nation.

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