Facebook Twitter Email
FEBRUARY 16, 2001

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Thursday defended his request for $1.3 million in funds to monitor tribal recognition petitions after a top lawmaker questioned his motives.

Rep. William Dyson (D), co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, said it seems like Blumenthal wants the money just to fight federal recognition. But Blumenthal denied the suggestion and said he only wants to monitor a process that he called a "statewide and now a national phenomena."

Blumenthal asked Governor John Rowland for $1.3 million in additional funds for tribal issues. The majority of the money would not go to legal staff, the main function of his office, but for genealogist, anthropologists, and social historians.

Rowland turned down the request so Blumenthal is approaching the Legislature.

Get the Story:
Bid for state funds for Indian issues questioned (The New London Day 2/16)
Blumenthal says funds to handle Indian legal issues necessary in wake of statewide, national 'phenomena' (The New London Day 2/16)

Related Stories:
EDITORIAL: Exaggeration fuels tribal debate (The Talking Circle 2/14)
EDITORIAL: Its everyone else's fault (The Talking Circle2/13)
Recognition, trust lands focus of hearing (Tribal Law 2/12)