The question is:
Do the members of the Osage Nation benefit?
The genesis of the Strategic Plan health initiatives came from you, our Osage People, and kicked forth ONCA 07-52, which was sponsored by Shannon Edwards.
This bill authorized the Executive Branch to designate the Health and Wellness Advisory Board to research, analyze, and recommend a prescription drug program for Congressional approval
ONCA 07-52 Vetoed
so that you can have help paying for your prescription drugs.
ONCA 07-52 was presented with a great deal of hope and expectations to the Osage Congress in the fall of 2007 and returned to committee to be rewritten in order to broaden its scope.
After much hard work and great enthusiasm from many people, it was presented once again to Congress on
April 9, 2008, and received unanimous approval.
Chief Jim Gray vetoed ONCA 07-52 unsigned on April 14, 2008.
His reasoning was that although the bill authorized the Executive Branch (the principal chief of the Osage Nation) to designate the Health and Wellness Advisory Board to research and report on this health issue — with its intent to find the best plan to help you pay for your prescription drugs — the Osage Constitution gives him the supreme executive power to designate and appoint who within the Executive Branch will perform the research and report on such issues.
He pronounced such a law as unconstitutional as it would de-authorize the power of the Executive Branch and set a precedent for further congressional authorizations.
On the other hand, due to his self-proclaimed unwavering support, the Chief will be issuing an Executive Order to carry out the basic provisions of ONCA 07-52.
The Constitution allows for a congressional override in such cases as this.
I have to question why three out of the five members of our Congressional Committee on Health voted against an override of the veto.
Although
Eddie Red Eagle, Jr. and Archie Mason, Jr. voted for the override —
Debra Littleton Atterberry, Anthony Shackleford, and Raymond Redcorn did not.
After all, this committee helped to draft the bill.
It seems to me we faced the governing issue of who should authorize research versus moving forward to benefit the Osage People.
It is not my desire to get tackled by power struggles between the Executive and Congressional Branches, struggles that interfere with helping our People.
I believe the Osage Congress has the authority to draft bills and appropriate funds so that the Nation can function.
We as elected officials, including both the Executive Branch and the Congressional Branch, have a duty-authorized responsibility to carry out the functions of our elected positions.
In other words, if Congress enacts a vote, the Executive Branch shoulders the duty to carry out the administrative functions of the government to benefit our People.
Good health is important to all of us.
Being able to sleep at night without worrying about how to pay for medicine is having a good night.
My desire and I’m sure your desire too is that we all have a health benefit to help manage our prescription costs.
Contributor:
John D. Red Eagle
Writer and editor:
Cherri J.M. Riding In
