Gorton responds to resolution

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Facebook Twitter Email
JULY 12, 2000

Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash), considered by many in Indian Country to be a foe to tribal sovereignty and Indian affairs, stated on Tuesday that he does not support a resolution calling for the termination of tribal governments.

"I am not in favor of that resolution, and it isn't going to result in any bill introduced in Congress, much less passed by Congress," stated Gorton.

Gorton's comments aren't the first he has made on the resolution, which was approved by fellow Washington state Republicans last month. The resolution has angered many for its anti-sovereignty stance and for subsequent comments made by primary author John Fleming, who suggested military force be used if Indian tribes disagree with the proposal.

Gorton discounted Fleming's comments in an interview with The Spokesman Review last week. "I think that it is perfectly appropriate for Indians to determine their own future and their own form of government," Gorton said.

But he also added another statement, which some say reveal his true feelings on the matter. "I don't support their attempts to interfere with the lives of non-Indians," said Gorton.

He reiterated those feelings on Tuesday. "I have very real concerns about the impacts of tribal governments on non-Indian citizens living on reservation land," Gorton stated.

Frank LaMere, vice chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party, believes Gorton's statements raise a "red flag" about his sincerity. He also believes Gorton's statements speak directly to people like Fleming, a non-Indian who lives on the Swinomish reservation in Washington.

"Senator Gorton plays a stacked deck," said LaMere. "Gorton does not need to qualify his statements about sovereignty and government-to-government relationships. One either supports them or one does not."

LaMere was on hand this past weekend to introduce a resolution before the California Democratic Party denouncing the Washington action. The Californians accepted the resolution, co-authored by the party's Native American Caucus and party chair Art Torres, and became the first party in the nation to respond to Fleming.

Senator Gorton made his comments during a briefing on Congressional bill H.R. 4578. The bill is an appropriations act for the Department of the Interior and includes increases in funding for the Indian Health Service, education programs, and the Office of Special Trustee, which will oversee trust reform.

Gorton in the past has attempted to include language in other appropriations bills that would waive tribal sovereign immunity without tribes' consent.

Relevant Links:
The California Democratic Party - www.ca-dem.org/dems/cadems.nsf/index
The Nebraska Democratic Party - www.nebraskademocrats.org
The Democratic National Committee - www.democrats.org/index.html
The Washington State Republican Party - www.wsrp.org
The Republican National Committee - www.rnc.org