Welcome sign in Napa Valley, California. Photo from Stan Shebs / Wikipedia

Officials in Napa County, California, have hired a lobbying firm to fight reforms to the federal recognition process at the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The county hired Platinum Advisors to lobby on "Tribal Land" issues, according to a disclosure form filed last month. InTheCapital said the contract was signed to oppose the BIA's Part 83 reforms.

"The county's position: We support tribal recognition only through Congress," the county says on its website.

Back in California, the county has already paid $81,000 to Platinum Advisors, The Napa Valley Register reported. The county spends the highest amount per-capita on lobbyists in the Bay Area despite being the smallest in the region, the paper reported.

Get the Story:
Interesting Contracts (InTheCapital 8/26)
Napa County spends big to influence Sacramento (The Napa Valley Register 8/17)

Federal Register Notices:
Federal Acknowledgment of American Indian Tribes (July 30, 2014)
Federal Acknowledgment of American Indian Tribes (May 29, 2014)

Relevant Documents:
Proposed Rule | Press Release | Comparison Chart (comparing current rule to proposed rule) | Response to Comments on June 2013 Discussion Draft | Frequently Asked Questions

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