Shirley standing by veto
Denies charges he is playing politics

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. responded Monday to allegations that his veto of the Diné Marriage Act is an abuse of presidential power and a campaign strategy.

"I looked at the legislation and did what I thought was right. And I have not changed my mind," Shirley said in a press release issued Monday.

The Diné Marriage Act amends Title Nine of the Navajo Nation Code to exclude recognition of marriages between blood relatives, plural marriages, and same-sex unions. The purpose, said its sponsor Larry Anderson, is to promote strong Navajo families and preserve family values.

Shirley vetoed the act on May 1, calling it unnecessary, and said it does not address issues detrimental to family values such as domestic violence and drug abuse.

Anderson, who is now sponsoring legislation to override the president's veto, released a statement on Friday that said the act is not "vague and specific" and the amendment to Title Nine is "not arbitrary and discriminatory in enforcement."

"The president's action to reject this worthwhile legislation appears to manipulate and to gain popular acceptance and preparation for his re-election campaign slogan for the upcoming Navajo Nation primary and general election," Anderson stated.

Anderson said Shirley abused his veto power, which "necessitates the re-evaluation of the president's veto power."

"This veto, like any other, is just part of the normal checks and balances afforded to the president on behalf of the Navajo people," Shirley stated in a press release. "If Mr. Anderson wants to seek an override of this veto, that's certainly his prerogative and the prerogative of the Council."

According to the same press release, accusing Shirley of abusing his power in this manner is like accusing the Navajo Supreme Court of abuse of power "simply for ruling in a way that did not favor a particular council delegate or the Navajo Nation Council.

"Therefore, it's a self-serving assertion," the release stated.

The president, the release continues, would have demonstrated an abuse of veto power had he vetoed all seven pieces of legislation passed by the council during its spring session.

"So, in this instance, for a council delegate to accuse the president of an abuse of power because he vetoed legislation the delegate sponsored shows more of a lack of statesmanship on the part of the delegate than an abuse of power by the president," the release stated.

Shirley said this issue was a people issue, not a government issue, and would support an initiative.

The Office of the President and Vice President reported that it has not received an e-mail or phone call opposing Shirley's action, instead, it has received "an unprecendent number of unsolicited e-mails and telephone calls" in support of Shirley's veto.

There is also an on-line petition opposing the Diné Marriage Act that has collected nearly 500 signatures. Comments from petitioners vary from "I have always regarded the Navajo as a fair and tolerant people. I hope I am not wrong" to "Do not make some of the Diné second-class citizens."

It's not clear who started the petition.

On the net: http://www.petiononline.com/DMA2005/petition.html.

— To contact reporter Pam Dempsey call (505) 879-1707 or e-mail pamelagdempsey@msn.com