ECWS-10-008 cobell v salazar

An excerpt:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby demand that the Congress of the United States conduct hearings to ensure that Indian country has time to consider the likely consequences, transparency, and fairness of the proposed legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Interior and the Cobell Plaintiffs conduct regional consultation with Indian Country to explain the proposed settlement and answer questions from affected Indian people.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.

From the BLT:

The federal government and lawyers for the plaintiffs have agreed to extend the deadline to finalize a $1.41 billion settlement in long-running Indian trust litigation past Dec. 31..

The new deadline is Feb. 28.

Kilpatrick Stockton partner Keith Harper, a lawyer for lead plaintiff Elouise Cobell, and a spokeswoman for the Department of Justice issued identical statements via e-mail: “In order for the agreement to remain valid after its existing December 31, 2009 Legislative Enactment Deadline, the parties have agreed to extend that deadline through February 28, 2010.”

Harper said he and D.C. solo practitioner Dennis Gingold,who also represents Cobell, signed the agreement late Tuesday. The extension does not require court approval, and no other changes were made to the settlement terms, Harper said.

The settlement agreement required Congress to pass legislation by Dec. 31 authorizing payment to the plaintiffs, but lawmakers didn’t do so before leaving town for the Christmas holiday. Continue reading →

From DOI.gov:

• Press Release
• Questions and Answers
• Factsheet

Update: Assistant AG Perrelli’s Remarks — ASG – Cobell 12.8.09