Council seeks look at tribe-related bills

BOISE – The new chairman of the Idaho Council on Indian Affairs says he’d like all legislation that would affect state-tribal relations to be reviewed by the council before it’s started through the Legislature.

“Typically, the council has responded as a fire drill after there has been legislation brought,” said Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake. “Frankly, we’re just trying to get a jump on it.”

In past years, legislation on everything from attempts to impose state taxes on reservation gas sales to attempts to restrict tribal cigarette sales has been brought without consulting the council, often to the frustration of council members. The council, which includes legislators from both houses and both parties, representatives of each of Idaho’s five recognized tribes and a representative of the governor’s office, was set up in part to monitor and review legislation that affects state-tribal relations.

“We would appreciate the consideration,” Jorgenson said.

The council met last week and had a good discussion on an array of issues, Jorgenson said. The group plans to meet monthly during the legislative session to stay on top of legislative issues, he said. The next meeting is set for Feb. 21.

Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo’s office attended last week’s meeting.

“It’s a unique committee,” Jorgenson said. “It has leaders from five cultures – that really makes it different.”

Jorgenson noted that the council’s only real authority is as a “conduit of information” and said there’s no law to stop tribal-related legislation from being introduced without review from the council.

Jorgenson said he’s hoping lawmakers will seek that review as a “courtesy.”

In addition to Jorgenson, the council includes Chief Allan of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, who is the council’s vice chairman; Sen. Bert Marley, D-McCammon; Nancy Murillo of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes; Rep. Joe Cannon, R-Blackfoot; Jennifer Porter of the Kootenai Tribe; Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene; Randall Minthorn of the Nez Perce Tribe; Lance Giles of the governor’s office; and Terry Gibson of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes.