Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Opinion
Editorial: Burns has chance to restore Indian funds


"President Bush just handed Montana Sen. Conrad Burns an opportunity to redeem himself following a tawdry bit of politics.

Both involve funding for Native Americans.

That's an area over which Burns holds great sway as chairman of the Interior Appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

That sway came into play last year when Burns helped pass $3 million in funding for the Saginaw Chippewas of Michigan.

The tawdry part is that the Saginaw Chippewas had hired Jack Abramoff, a high-profile Republican lobbyist, to help them curry favor in Congress."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Bush budget gives Sen. Burns an opportunity (The Great Falls Tribune 3/31)

Related Stories:
Democrats want Burns to return tribal donations (03/29)
Burns denies wrongdoing for helping Abramoff client (03/24)
Chairman: Montana tribes support Senator Burns (3/18)
Editorial: Facts don't look good for Senator Burns (03/14)
Editorial: Burns needs better story on Abramoff flap (3/8)
Firm offers $9M refund to Saginaw Chippewa Tribe (3/7)
Editorial: A 'Super Bowl' earmark for tribe (3/7)
Editorial: Burns 'enriched' by Abramoff and tribes (3/7)
Horse Sense: Burns and Baucus 'cozy' with lobbyists (3/7)
Burns promises cooperation with Abramoff probe (3/4)
Editorial: Who do you work for, Senator Burns? (3/4)
Burns looking into Abramoff ties, Dorgan denies link (3/2)
Burns, Dorgan backed $3M grant for Abramoff client (3/1)
Tribal lobbying scandal hurts ex-Abramoff firm (02/17)
Sag Chip recall targets anti-Abramoff tribal leaders (02/11)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers (11/18)
Documents detail lobbyists' role in tribal elections (10/04)
More hearings slated in tribal lobbyist scandal (09/30)
Senate hearing on tribal lobbying probe set (8/26)
Saginaw Chippewa leader who paid lobbyists ousted (06/04)
Indian Country awaits outcome of lobbying probe (05/18)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe wonders where $14M went (04/20)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe hires new lobbying firm (03/09)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes (04/03)
Embattled tribe gets new lobbyist (12/13)