Tribal leaders in South Dakota say Gov. Mike Rounds (R) was wrong to call the Indian Health Service a "disaster."

Robert Moore, a council member for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, said politics motivated the negative comments. Rounds is a rising figure in Republican politics and plans to return to the insurance industry in 2011..

"We know insurance companies, the governor's association, have great interest in what happens with health care reform in the United State," Moore told The Rapid City Journal.

Sharon Vogel, a manager for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, said Rounds was unfairly singling out the IHS. She said the main problem lies with inadequate funding for the agency.

"Bottom line for Indian people, health care is a treaty right," Vogel told the paper. "And make no mistake: We gave up a lot for our government hospitals and government doctors and free prescription drugs."

Get the Story:
Governor's criticism sparks defense of IHS (The Rapid City Journal 8/17)

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