Thanks For Smoking

Last month, the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council voted unanimously to pass a law that subsidizes the sale of tobacco.  So, the Nation is now in the position of buying billboards that say “Tobacco Stops With Me,” while at the same time paying people to sell you tobacco at below-market prices.

Here’s the deal: The Cherokee Nation is going to take $725,000 of the Cherokee people’s money and give it to the people who own the land that the smoke shops sit on.  Which means that the people who run the smokeshops don’t actually have to pay their rent anymore, the Cherokee Nation is picking up the tab.

Which is actually good news, because if the Cherokee Nation has close to a million bucks to subsidize the people who sell us cancer sticks, we’re sure that means they’ve already fully-funded health care and college scholarships, and of course, eyeglasses and dentures.   

We’re glad there are no longer any social problems that need to be addressed in the Cherokee Nation, and we anxiously await the roll-out of subsidies for folks at liquor stores and perhaps the fine folks at Hostess because the price of Ding-Dongs is getting just a little too high for our diabetes-riddled communities.

12 Days Until the Election- Guest Blog featuring Chief Chad Smith

Two weeks ago, we asked Baker and Smith to submit a blog, 700 words or less, for our audience. We asked that the blogs be positive and about their candidacy, and pointed out that it would be a way to reach a few hundred Cherokees without having to kill and fry a single hog. Both candidates responded to our email, but only one actually submitted a blog, and his blog will run today.

Those of you who support Baker, we apologize that his campaign chose not to respond, but as we pointed out, no hard feelings.  That being said, here is Smith’s guest blog:

____________________________

I want to begin by saying Wado to Cherokee Truth for allowing me to post a blog on this page and I commend the site for its dedication to providing accurate information to Cherokee voters.

I’m proud to be principal chief of the great Cherokee Nation, because I love the work of building our Nation. I never underestimate our people, our employees or our future because I believe as Redbird Smith said, “We are intelligent, industrious; we are loyal and we are spiritual.” These are important traits to consider when we are on the verge of selecting leadership.

By just about every measure, the Cherokee Nation is better off today than it was 12 years ago.  I will always believe that the very best service we can provide for our people is a job.  We’ve created 5,000 jobs with great benefits that enable our people to take care of their families and contribute to their communities. And Cherokee Nation hiring policy requires that Cherokees be considered first for all jobs.  Look around and ask yourself if more of your friends and family work for the Cherokee Nation and our businesses today than 12 years ago.

While we are proud of our successes in gaming, we know that to provide a secure future for generations of Cherokees, we must work to create a strong and diverse tribal economy.  By operating on a sound fiscal policy that reinvests our gaming profits, we own businesses that provide environmental services, home health care, IT and hospitality services.  Our strong credit rating enables us to receive capital improvement loans at interest rates that save our Nation thousands of dollars.

Our health care system’s budget in 1999 was just $18 million. Now, it’s more than $300 million. When some folks were doubtful about Cherokee Nation assuming operations of W.W. Hastings Hospital, I had faith that our employees could do a great job, and we’ve increased services and put $9 million into additional facilities there.

Our housing program went from putting 23 families in houses each year to putting more than 200 families in houses each year. I believe our housing employees do an amazing job and we receive thank you notes and compliments on their work daily.  

Under my leadership and thanks to our staff, the CN has received national awards nine years in a row for its finance system and audits. I proposed the Nation’s first Freedom of Information Act, Open Records Act and Free Press Act.  I strongly believe in the need for our government to be both transparent and accountable which is why our budget is posted online and Annual Reports are delivered each year to Cherokee citizens, both on our government budget and on the division of casino profits.

I’ve disagreed with our highest court, but always respected their decisions and their position as a third and equal branch of government.   It is my sworn obligation and my constitutional duty to both follow the law and to defend adamantly the Cherokee people’s right to their own constitutional process.

I have increased our overall budget for services from less than $150 million to $600 million, in part because of our efforts in Washington, D.C.  Education will continue to be one of my highest priorities.  During the past ten years, the Nation has provided more than 23,000 students scholarships for higher education and assisted thousands more through vocational training grants.

I could go on talking about the great things our employees have done and how far we’ve come, but if you’ve been around here, you see it. Still, I know there is a much more we can accomplish and I am running for re-election to continue building and improving the Cherokee Nation.  Recently, President Obama said, “We should live up to the expectations of our children.”  As Cherokees, I believe we must look to the future in even broader terms.  Our children and theirs and theirs.  Your response to this call will ensure that the Cherokee Nation will continue to be stronger than ever, passing on our great legacy to those who come after.

Wado,

Chief Chad Smith

19 Days Until the Election- Watch for Flying Mud

Nothing like a federal investigation to get the election kicked into high gear.  Even if it appears to only be a one day long investigation that never really WAS an investigation to begin with.

The Baker campaign said they had ‘clear evidence’ that Smith’s campaign was ‘violating federal law by shaking down tribal employees for money.’  In an email blast, Bakers campaign said Smith’s actions were ‘not only wrong, but illegal.’

Baker attached a letter  that he says three Cherokee Nation employees high up in the health department sent to other health group employees. The letter spends a lot of time talking about how awesome the health group is, a paragraph or so talking about registering to vote in the election, etc. and a few sentences on giving to Smith’s campaign, asking ‘health professionals’ to give ‘$500-$1000’ to Smith’s campaign.  Baker claims this is a violation of something called the Hatch Act.

Smith’s campaign responds by saying the U.S. Attorney has already looked at this and said nothing illegal happened.  Smith’s email includes comments from the Cherokee Nation Attorney General Hammons who said, “I was made aware of allegations by Bill John Baker's campaign that Cherokee Nation Health Services employees had violated the Hatch Act by campaigning for Chad Smith. I have spoken with the U. S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and have been informed that there is no Hatch Act violation. That federal Act pertains to partisan campaign actions by federal employees. The employees are not federal employees and a tribal election is not a partisan election.” (click link for full story)

This can hardly be the first time in the history of Cherokee elections that employees have been asked to donate money to candidates.  It is the first time anyone thought it was a violation of federal law, and the feds have said, no, that’s not the case.  We assume Baker doesn’t think this is a violation of tribal law, or he would have said so.

It’s amazing how much time is being spent on who is giving to whom, but those are a lot of the questions we are getting at Cherokee Truth.

In this case, Baker immediately got an answer to a legal question he raised.  Hopefully, from here on out, he’ll use the truth to educate Cherokee voters.  Maybe he doesn’t like employees supporting Smith, but he shouldn’t accuse them of breaking the law if they haven’t done so.  Maybe that one-day "investigation" will be the end of it, but for some reason we don’t think so.

42 Days Until the Election- Debate Blow by Blow

Tonight, Principal Chief Chad Smith and Bill John Baker went mano-a-mano at The Cherkee Phoenix Debate. 

Cherokee Truth will just jump right in with a little analysis and as much truth as we can cram into one blog.

Councilor Bill John Baker
Photo credit Cherokee Phoenix

Principal Chief Chad Smith
 Photo credit Cherokee Phoenix 

In the opening statements, Smith basically said the Cherokee Nation is the best thing since fire.  Baker basically said the Cherokee Nation is going to h**l in a handbasket and/or private plane.    Baker lit into Smith pretty hard, and Smith was given a chance to respond.  He did so by saying he didn’t think the Cherokee people wanted to hear a lot of negative talk and declined to discuss it further.

The first question was about their top priorities as Chief.  Smith talked about his vision for the Nation as a happy healthy people, creating jobs and self-reliance.  Baker talked about how much money the Nation has but isn’t spending on housing and health care, but if he were Chief the Nation would. 

The second question was about water rights.  Baker said, basically, he didn’t know much about it, but he’d hire the best lawyers we can to do this because it’s as important as oil to the Osages.  Smith said he did know a lot about it, and that under his watch the Nation actually won a court case saying we had water rights, and that whatever water rights the state thinks they have, the Cherokee Nation actually has.

The third question was what is the greatest political mistake they ever made.  Smith got some pretty hearty laughs by saying his was getting his picture taken with former U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, then moved on to talking about increasing health care budgets.  Baker didn’t really answer the question either, just saying we all make mistakes and everyone could do better. 

On the fourth question, things got a little weird.  They asked about CNB buying a business in Colorado. Baker responded first by saying CNB is all screwed up, they have bad policies and that the council should be in control of the purse.  Then he lit into Chief Smith’s claim of creating 5000 new jobs.  Instead, Baker claimed the Nation actually lost 1000 jobs during Chief Smith's administration. 

The Cherokee Truth about had a milk-through-the nose moment there… We’re not sure how many more jobs are at Cherokee Nation now than before, but it’s sure as heck is NOT 1000 less!

Smith said that smart people at Harvard say that tribes do well in business when they have a separate board running the businesses, not the Tribal Council, saying that CNE, for example, used to have 500 employees and make $3 million a year and now they have 3,500 employees and make a ton more.  On the claim that the Nation has 1000 fewer jobs than before, Smith said he ‘challenged the mathematics’ of that. 

Question 5:  Basically, what’s the best way to provide housing for Cherokees?  Fortunately on this one, we have a Cherokee Phoenix  truth report (pg 10) that sorts it all out.   Basically, the truth on this is that yes, under the old system, there was a 50 year plus waiting list and yes, under the new system the Nation is helping tons more people.  But, it also says that Baker might be right about money at the housing authority that could be spent on additional programs.

The sixth question was about term limits for the Council and for the Chief and Deputy Chief.  Baker went first and said he was in favor of term limits for the Chief (just like the state and feds have for their top executive) but not for Council.   He said there is too much power at the top.  Smith said he didn’t think the argument was about too much power, but that Baker didn’t have the power and wanted it.  He said the Cherokee people went 70 years without being able to elect their own Chiefs after statehood, and we shouldn’t hamstring the power of the people to decide who they want on the council or as chief.

Question 7:  A question asking the candidates if CNB should release things like purchase prices or lease agreements when they buy businesses.  Both candidates agreed CNB should do so…. Smith by saying rather briefly that he’d already instructed CNB to do that in the future, and Baker saying that basically the Cherokee people are the shareholders and had the right to know just as much as IBM’s shareholders have a right to know these things.

On the last question, things got a little tense again.  The question was about the pay raise that is set to go into effect for elected officials of the Cherokee Nation starting next term.  Baker said it was wrong and the Chief should have vetoed it, especially since we are having budget cuts for services.  Smith said it was a non-political process and while he didn’t agree with the amount of the raise, he respected the process and the will of the council.  He pointed out that he, Smith, was the only candidate to say he would reject the raise, and that even though Baker had asked the council to turn down the raise, he never actually said he would reject the raise himself.  He said Baker had taken a $6000 backdoor raise for travel expenses this past year, and challenged him to turn down the raise for Chief or council (since even if Baker loses, he’ll stay on the council).    Baker did not directly answer whether he would or would not take the raise, so on Smith’s final rebuttal, Smith pointed out that Baker still had not declined the raise.  At that point, the moderator gave Baker a third chance to speak on the issue, but Baker again did not turn down the raise, though he said he’s never been in it for the money.

Oh yeah, another big moment, and I can’t remember which question it was a part of, was when Baker was going off about the private plane again and how no one can get their hands on the flight logs.  Then Smith walked over and handed Baker the logs and told him what Cherokee Truth said 8 days ago: JUST ASK THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LOGS AND THEY WILL PROBABLY GIVE THEM TO YOU!  I’m sure we’ll hear more about those logs in the coming days.  In the meantime, maybe all the candidates will start following our wise advice! 

Finally, they had the closing arguments, which were just like what we heard at the top.  Smith told a story about kids speaking Cherokee to him in the new Sequoyah gym.  Baker talked about the plane and travel records, even though he already had them now.    He promised to sell the Cherokee Nation plane on Day 1 when he is chief. 

There is not a link to watch online yet, and it’s not our place to say who ‘won’ or who ‘lost.’  But at the end, one candidate looked about 2.5 seconds away from throwing a hissy fit, and the other one looked relaxed. 

Sorry this is going up so late, but as you can see, it’s really (too) long and took a while to put together.  

43 Days Until the Election- Budget Priorities: Postage Stamps and Livestock Auctions

The short version of today’s truth:  You can usually tell someone’s priorities by what they spend their money on.  Some people like fancy clothes, some people like big trucks, some people collect Hummel figurines.  Hey, to each his own.  

But when it comes to the Cherokee Nation’s money, we think you can tell a lot about our elected officials’ priorities by what they spend money on.  We’ve talked about some the cuts the Chief made in the budget, which was down overall 6%.  But what we haven’t talked much about is what the tribal council did to that budget once they got ahold of it.  

So what did they do to the budget? The answer is next to nothing.  They made very few amendments in budget hearings.  To read the minutes yourself,  click here, then search the executive and finance committee for 2010, and click on the minutes of the 9/8/10 meeting.

Since we’re focused on the chief race, it should be noted that Councilor Baker made no motions whatsoever to change the Chief’s budget.  But, the whole council has to vote on the budget and when it was their turn to add money, here’s where they put it:

Roads, livestock auctions, sports teams, water lines, individual water and sewer assistance, rural fire departments, adult community assistance and the tribal council budget for in-district mailouts* (for the longer, more detailed list, see below) 

You can judge for yourself if those are the priorities you want from your elected officials, but if an incumbent tells you they don’t like what’s in the budget, and that it should have perhaps been spent on dentures or mammograms, remember-- when they had a chance to do so, they voted for livestock auctions and postage stamps instead. 

The minutes show that Councilor Baker did not make a single motion to change the budget. So, it seems a little late now to say that he wants to spend more money on health care when he didn’t even try to do it when he had the chance.

*The Details

The budget hearings show that the Council moved $300,000 from roads projects to pay for livestock auctions ($25,000), sports teams ($25,000), water lines ($100,000) and water and sewer assistance ($150,000).  Then, they moved additional money from something called IHS Admin to build more water lines.  They put an additional $150,000 to fund rural fire departments and $50,000 for something called adult community assistance. And the last thing they added to the budget for the fiscal year was $46,000 for in-district mailouts.