No comment...yet!
This is just stunning...absolutely stunning::
Bush seeks dramatic changes to Cobell settlement
Tuesday, October 24, 2006The Bush administration is proposing sweeping changes to the Cobell settlement bill that would phase out the federal government's trust management responsibilities and force consolidation of Indian lands.
Within 10 years, the Interior Department would no longer manage the 54 million acres held in trust for individual Indians and tribes. The goal is to turn the system into a "beneficiary-managed" trust for which the United States cannot be held liable for any damage claims.
First and foremost it seems this is simply a dissolution of federal liability for trust mismanagement; you know, no more than Bush's continuing war on trial lawyers, neh? Believe me, Chevron and BP know better.
Here is the briefing paper on S.1439.
Comments
Is there any chance Halliburton will be contracted to manage the lands? Seriously, is there? As a patriotic American, I'd like to buy some more of their stock!
Posted by: Rex Kramer, Danger Seeker | October 25, 2006 12:40 AM
Yeah, that's something else, isn't it? Not only does Bush propose to pay a fraction of what was actually stolen (excuse me, I meant 'lost'), but now he insists on immunizing the government from liability when (excuse me, I mean 'if') they screw it up again! Here's a radical idea: why not just abolish the whole damn trust system and turn the land back over to the tribes involved (assuming they weren't terminated)? Or would that be too simple?
Posted by: The Local Crank | October 25, 2006 05:32 PM