Delegate wants 1 State of the Nation report

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — One council delegate is tired of listening to President Joe Shirley Jr.

Well, in a manner of speaking.

Francis Redhouse, the delegate from Tees Nos Pos, presented legislation to the Budget & Finance Committee to amend the Nation's laws and require a State of the Nation report from the president only once a year.

Currently, the president is required to give quarterly State of the Nation addresses on the first day of the council's winter, fall, summer and spring sessions.

The president's address takes up a great deal of the council's time, sometimes to the detriment of hearing other matters, Redhouse said.

"I'm attempting to streamline the flow of the Navajo Nation council sessions," Redhouse explained.

"It's a really good idea," said George Hardeen, a spokesman for the Office of President and Vice President. "I know the president would appreciate it."

The president is now allowed 20 minutes for his quarterly report, but would that be enough time to deliver an annual message, wondered Delegate Mel R. Begay. If the State of the Nation is changed to annually, the president should be allowed an additional 20 minutes, Begay said.

"As for the (president's) report, it seems like it never changes," Redhouse said.

Not all the B & F members agreed with the proposed move.

"In some instances there may be redundancy, but at the same time there is some validity to it," suggested Lorenzo Curley. Having the president come before the council quarterly means that concerns can be raised in a more immediate fashion, Curley said.

Redhouse's legislation would require the president to give a State of the Nation address on the first day of the winter session only. The Ethics & Rules Committee — which Redhouse chairs — also has the power to compel the president to appear before it if some issue dictated such a move.

The winter session did concern Begay.

"That's half way through the fiscal year," Begay said. It might be better if the president's speech were closer to the beginning of the fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, Begay added.

"Every time the president is there, it takes up half a day or more," agreed Delegate Ralph Bennett. For many delegates, it is their only opportunity to ask questions directly of the president, Bennett said.

Often delegates fling questions at the president that have nothing to do with his report, said B & F's Pete Ken Atcitty.

The State of the Nation took shape as a quarterly report around 1989, Hardeen said.

"It was probably a good idea, but times have changed now," he added.

Besides, the president is willing to make himself available to talk with the council any time, Hardeen said.

"I would side with having the government answer to the people," Curley said.

B & F Vice Chairman Leonard Chee saw no reason to change from the current system.

"Sometimes it's the only chance to raise issues with the president," Chee said. "That communication has to be there."

Having a year between State of the Nation reports leaves too long of a gap without any accountability, Chee said.

But B & F split three-votes each for the bill, leaving Chairman LoRenzo C. Bates to decide the issue.

"The Nation needs to know what's going on," Bates said. The council is there to represent the people and it would be shirking its responsibility if it did not remain informed on the issues and what the executive branch was doing, Bates said.

The president needs to hear from the people — and it's the delegates' job to provide that voice, Bates said. He voted against the legislation.

"A lot can go on within a year that we may need to know about," Bates said.

John Christian Hopkins can be reached at hopkins1960@hotmail.com or by calling 505-371-5443.