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Comments from the Chief 9/2008 |
From the Office of the Principal Chief
Chief Advocates for Greater Accountability for Nation
Pawhuska, Oklahoma- August 22, 2008 -The Osage Nation Congress convened without a quorum and adjourned after only fifteen minutes and no discussion. The only action at the Special Session was taken by Principal Chief Gray when he read his opening address. Absent from today’s Special Session were Congress members Branstetter, Edwards, Mason, Revard, Shackleford, Supernaw.
Principal Chief Jim R. Gray called the Osage Congress into Special Session to address ethical conduct within the Nation. In his Executive Proclamation calling the Special Session Chief Gray placed passage of an Ethics Law on the agenda, and further urged Congress to take up the topic of policing its own internal conduct, and establishing a more detailed process for the removal of elected and appointed officials.
“I am very concerned that we have reached this crisis stage without a serious attempt to enact a sound and workable code of ethics and system of maintaining internal discipline,” stated Chief Gray. In 2007 Chief Gray wrote to the Speaker of the Congress regarding perceived misconduct of a Congressional member. While personal Congressional reactions were mixed, they took no official action regarding the complaint.
“The offending conduct has only grown bolder and more defiant because of this lack of accountability,” stated the Chief. Chief Gray met with Congressional leadership and inquired about continuing misconduct and the lack of action taken as requested in the earlier letter. Again, there was no action.
“This lax discipline within Congress has encouraged the most recent regrettable actions,” explained a frustrated Chief Gray. The Osage Nation Gaming Commission, earlier this week, conducted an evidentiary hearing prompted by a complaint from the Osage Nation Gaming Board. The complaint focused on alleged wrong doing of four members of Congress at Osage Million Dollar Elm facilities.
To protect employees and the interests of the Nation, Chief Gray hoped the entire Congress would have heeded the call to Special Session, and would have taken the responsible actions their sworn duty pursuant to the Constitution of the Osage Nation compels of them.
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