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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2003

The co-chairman of the Congressional Native American Caucus told the Associated Press he is "reluctant" to put much stock into a government report about the mismanaged trust fund.

Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) said the report, prepared by the Department of Justice to fight the Cobell lawsuit, was limited in nature. But he and other lawmakers wanted to see the information anyway.

The Department of Interior yesterday released a summary of the report. A House panel inserted language in the 2003 appropriations act forcing the disclosure of the information. The same lawmakers, without tribal consultation or public hearings, also tried to limit an accounting of the trust fund and authorize a study of Indian gaming.

John Scofield, a Republican staff member for the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, tells Gannett News that the report will play a role. "It's fairly safe to say in light of this report we'll be skeptical for any request for additional funds," he was quoted as saying.

Get the Story:
Study Finds $61 Error in Indian Accounts (AP 3/25)
Report finds Indian trust plantiffs owed a mere $61 (The Great Falls Tribune 3/26)
Report alleges Indian trusts claim inflated (The Denver Post 3/26)

Relevant Documents:
Ernst & Young Summary Submitted to Court (February 28, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust

Related Stories:
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Appropriators question historical accounting (3/13)
DOI sanctioned for 'deceit' (3/12)
IIM accounting keeps changing (3/12)
New Cobell ruling from Judge Lamberth (3/11)
Court blocks Norton's historical accounting scheme (3/4)
A trust fund scandal? Not here! (3/4)
Trust management standards key to reform plan (01/08)
Cobell trust reform plans filed (1/7)
Let court review trust fund accounts (10/11)
Judge rejects Norton's 'absurd' accounting claim (09/23)
House bill cuts trust fund accounting (06/28)
Norton says accounting complete for plaintiffs (02/14)
Judge rejects 'improper' request by Norton (02/06)
Norton criticized on private trust report (02/05)
Norton renews push on private trust data (2/1)
Norton seeking to expose trust fund data (9/28)