Navajo special session July 16

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Ethics and Rules Committee held a special session Tuesday to approve a July 16 special session of the Navajo Nation Council.

The Council will address legislation sponsored by Budget and Finance Committee Chairman LoRenzo Bates which calls for accepting an audit report by KPMG LLP on the Navajo Nation government’s 2007 financial statements.

Council Speaker Lawrence Morgan told the committee he was approached by members of the Budget and Finance Committee and asked to call the special session based on Council’s directive last year to hear the annual audit report prior to the budget session.

“The budget session is the first week in September, but they would rather have this audit report way before the scheduled session. Normally we do the audit update the day before the budget session starts,” he said.

During last week’s B&F meeting, Chairman LoRenzo Bates said that because of numerous audit findings — some recurring and dating back to 2002 — there likely would be lengthy discussion on the report. He said there were more than 40 findings within executive branch divisions and programs.

Morgan said he also had received a request from B&F to hear a report from the Navajo Nation Investment Committee. “There are some impacts on our investments for the whole Navajo Nation,” he said.

“It’s important to let the Council know the status of the Nation’s investments when you consider what has been happening in the financial world,” Bates said later. “Along with that, we have a responsibility to the Council to tell them, and delegates have been asking.”

The session is set for 10 a.m. at the Council Chamber.
The Ethics and Rules Committee also approved a resolution sponsored by Delegate Hoskie Kee calling for an override of President Joe Shirley Jr.’s veto of a change in the Eastern Navajo Land Commission’s plan of operation.

Though Kee asked to have the resolution put on the agenda for summer session, Ethics Chairman Francis Redhouse said it probably will not be considered until fall.

“The plan of operation has been long overdue,” Kee said. “This is the plan of operation that was initiated and worked through with the advice of the land commission’s legal counsel. We have invested a lot of resources into this plan of operation.”

Shirley vetoed the resolution May 5, saying the proposed amendments authorize the commission to assume responsibilities which potentially could conflict with the authorities of several standing and oversight committees, as well as the authority of the president to represent the Nation on land and energy issues.

The seven-member commission would consist of six Council delegates from the checkerboard area, appointed by the speaker, and one at-large member appointed by the president.

Shirley said he believes the function of the commission should be carried out by local representatives, as opposed to Council delegates.

“I think this will be a good part of government reform,” said Ethics member Jack Colorado, who voted for the override.