Earlier this month, the Osage Nation Congress passed several bills in efforts to reduce the Nation's spending. The bills would reduce spending by more than $250,000 in 2016. However, Osage Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear had stated that if the bills passed, he would veto the spending cuts.
Thursday, December 17, Chief Standing Bear fulfilled his promise, vetoing bills ONCA 16-10, 16-11, 16-12, 16-13, and 16-14. In an open letter to the Congress, Chief Standing Bear stated he did not agree with the amount of money to be cut from each of the departments and recommended Congress wait until the Treasurer could come to a finalized decision on an appropriate amount. Chief Standing Bear also cited a pending lawsuit between the Principal Chief and the Congress, stating that Congress was taking action on the Fiscal Year's Financials under the assumption they would win the lawsuit. The Osage Nation Congress met Friday morning December 18, to make a determination on the vetoed bills. The Congress would need a 9-0 vote to bypass the Principal Chief's vetoes, which they were able to get on five of the six proposed bills, ONCA 16-10 remains vetoed. Read more about the spending cuts and the passed bills at OsageNews.org. Comments are closed.
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