Colorado lawmaker compared Indian tuition bill to 'reparations'

Friday, May 2, 2014  

A Colorado lawmaker is coming under fire for voting against a bill to expand the Indian tuition program.

Sen. Mary Hodge (D) said HB1124 would have cost the state too much money. Offering in-state tuition to members of 48 tribes with connections to Colorado was expected to cost $6 million.

But she also raised a philosophical objection to the bill. “I don’t know how long we can make reparations [to Native Americans] or how far we’d have to go back,” Hodge told Indian Country Today.

A fellow Democrat says the comments reek of racism. Rep. Joe Salazar (D) says Hodge killed the bill because he opposed one that she was sponsoring.

Get the Story:
Reparations Comment Sparks Ire After Bill for Indian Tuition Dies (Indian Country Today 4/30)
Sen. Hodge's reparations comment about Native Americans called racist (The Denver Post 5/2)

Lawmakers in Colorado ax bill to expand Indian tuition program (4/30)
Colorado House passes bill to expand Indian tuition program (04/16)
Colorado measure offers in-state tuition for Indian students (2/6)