Good morning Raymond,
I have been unable to attend the committee meetings due to mom's health.   I have scheduled my calendar to attend on July 15th,2008.

For my input, I truly believe the new structure of the committees is a very dangerous concept, due to those in charge and this is when the problems started to accumulate for all.

I have disagreed with both the "subpoena law" and the new "office of performance and fiscal review" and I have not changed my opinion of this.  I knew at the beginning that this was going to be a problem, due to congresses members Supernaw, Shackleford, Simms, Revard, Anderson, Bransteter and Red Eagle.  To investigate the Executive Branch, I saw it at the meetings and the purpose was to probe in the daily workings of the tribe by the Congress, for personal vengeance by those named above, it was set up for abuse from the beginning.

The thing is we are not the U.S. or other tribal governments we are the Osage Nation that should be above these types of problem seekers.  We should be the example not the back end of the donkey.  It is embarrassing for the members of this Nation, because our elected officials cannot get along with the pros’ and con's of their offices.

I will not support those mentioned above if they run for office again.  I will do my best to make sure the people know of their conniving attempts to disrupt the process of the peoples government. You forget the Constitution is ruled by the people and if we don't have the chance to protest the actions of our congress and executive branches, then there is no way the people have any rights to participate in those that should be called to account for their conduct.

I am very disappointed in the workings of our Congress and the lack of reasonableness in working with the people.   The Executive branch has it's problems of the same, when they do not act on the peoples questions, concerns, input to be more successful in dealing with their activities.

What are the people to do?

Thanks for your update, Kugees Notes were so negative and bringing up past events - he can't seem to move on.

Sandra Akins

--- "Raymond W. Redcorn" <rredcorn@osagetribe.org> wrote:

> Update #41
>

The views, opinions and commentary in this update are those ofCongressman Red Corn. They are his alone, and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Osage Nation Congress.
>
> The recent lawsuits
> Much has already been made of the recent lawsuits filed by the Executive
> Branch.  Speaking as one Congressperson, I do not share the alarm others
> have expressed over recent events. No one should be surprised by legal challenges
> between branches during the first years of a new government.  I further
> believe that such legal challenges are a natural product of the political process.
>
> Some tribes lack a political process, and those that  cannot find civil ways to settle     differences sometimes resort to public fistfights in aneffort to settle differences of opinion.  Thankfully, we have a third branch of government - the Judicial - that exists to
> settle differences of opinion between the Legislative branch and the Executive.  That's
> exactly what is happening now.
>

 The Executive has challenged the method by which the Congress has subpoenaed the membership list of the Osage Nation, and further challenged the notion that Congress should actually run the membership department.  I signed the subpoena, but not for the
> purpose of establishing a membership department within the Congress.  I believe the
> Congress should have equal access to contact information with
> constituents without having to ask permission of the Executive branch. In my opinion, this language of the Constitution needs clarification by our court system.  This end result of this legal action should provide that clarification.
>

> (As a side note, the recently re-introduced Election Law would, if passed, provide for release of names and mailing addresses of all members of the Osage Nation to other members for non-commercial purposes.  It further provides that members may exercise an option to be removed from the public list.)
>
> While the first suit revolves around the technicalities of subpoena, the second is about the limits of power the Congress can exercise under the definition of "oversight".  There are defined limits established for legislative branches in governments across this country, and it will be interesting to see how this issue plays out in the Osag courts.  At issue is the alleged lack of process and/or limitation on the license of the OFPR to examine Osage government files. 
>
> During the process of developing and refining the OFPR legislation, concern was repeatedly expressed by some members of Congress that such an office could be abused if allowed to run unfettered.  This concern is echoed in the recent suit, and it will be up to the Osage courts to determine whether such concerns are warranted once the facts are known. Once the court has clarified the limitations of Congress' power or identifies flaws in the legislation, the Congress can amend the law to accommodate any Constitutional concerns expressed by the court. Similarly, the Congress may elect to re-issue the subpoena by a different method if the court identifies a problem with the method Congress used the first time around.
>
> It should be noted that if the Executive failed to comply with a law passed by the Osage Congress and deemed Constitutional, the Congress would very likely exercise the same option (lawsuit), and ask the Osage Supreme Court to issue a binding opinion that would require the Executive branch to comply with the law.
>

> A civil and orderly political process is being exercised by the recent suits; the Supreme Court of the Osage Nation exists for just such circumstances.  In short, the system is working as it was designed to work. 
> 
The development of a Health benefit for Osages Last year Congresswoman Edwards filed a bill to offer a prescription drug benefit to Osages.  Before the recent cash buildup became evident, the bill was modified to just study the issue.
>

> During this interim period the Osage Nation has accumulated nearly $20 million in cash, and projected another $20 million in surplus (assuming modest increases in the FY2009 budget).  With this in mind, private discussions on a health benefit have broadened to include a wider schedule of benefits.
>
> These discussions have so far been between individual members ofCongress.  The Health and Social Services Committee will soon take up the issue of a framework for such a benefit,including estimates of costs and discussions of low-cost methods of benefit distribution.  I'll report on progress as these ideas   take shape.
>
> On June 20, Congresswoman Edwards, Congressman Red Eagle, Speaker Mason,APC John Red Eagle, Heath Advisory   Board memberCecilia Tallchief and I traveled to Ada, Oklahoma to see how the Chickasaw Nation delivers services to its citizens.  >
> 

 

 

Thank you for your information, however troubling it seems to me - it

looks like I have alot of work to do on my
osageforum.com.    With the

attitude of many of our Congress members we are in big trouble.  I have

seen this for myself and at times discouraged, more specificly on:

a)   personal views with a lack of concern for all Osages

b)   not allowing the Executive department to do the job of  economic

development, which I strongly believe  is NOT a job for the Congress. 

I would like to know how much money has been spent from the Congress on

looking for potential economic development.  In my opinion this

committee is absurd, when laws need to be written.

c)  how many times does it take to write and adopt  rules from a

published book of rules, especially when they are not followed.  It is a

waste of time.

d) the lack of concern of writting laws that are in conflict with other

laws, where is good judgement or even common sense.

e) I agree it was poor judgement to make up committees without all

members present - .   As I read the adgenda's this action was NOT apart of

the Session or executive committee- this is the type of action thatt

concerns the people.  I believe this determination should be null and

void because it was not published for the people to have imput.



Congressional Jurisdiction appears to be in conflict of the Osage

Constitution, as I believe in the separation of powers and not policing each

other.    This  Congress Appropriations Committee - just by its name

  is a fuction of and apart of the Executive Department.  As I see it -

it is the Executive department  that request appropriations for the

daily activities and the running of the agency and programs.  It is a

misnomer and  is another one of Supernaws' overbearing and sticking his nose

in where it does not belong-  its the same as the Audit Committee at

the Cost of $400,000.00 that could be spent on the Osage people programs

and not one of Supernaws Supper Funds.



I pray that somehow those that believe they are smarter than others

will recognize that they are not always right and should listen to good

common sense and leave their personal vendettas at home.

                                         O SAGE N ATION C ONGRESS

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As of March 17, 2008