President, speaker not seeing eye to eye

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan has expressed disappointment with what he says are further delays of meetings with Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr.However, Shirley said his office will continue to abide by the protocol agreed to in May to hold discussions about government reform with respect and an appreciation of k’e, according to Communications Director George Hardeen.

“This is what the speaker, the Council delegates, and the public asked for, and what the president agreed to,” Hardeen said.

Shirley and Morgan have conducted four face-to-face meetings in an effort to talk things out regarding disagreements with the president’s initiatives to reduce the size of the Navajo Nation Council and to give the president line-item veto power.

Morgan said his meetings with Shirley have been held nearly every week, and they have been cordial and productive.

The focus of the meetings has been for the development of a draft settlement document that will establish procedures for a complete re-examination and overhaul of the Navajo Nation government — comprehensive reform that Morgan has always advocated for, not just for reducing the Council, according to Joshua Lavar Butler, communications director for Morgan.

Morgan is concerned and disappointed that the pace of these meetings has slowed down and said it is critical that he and Shirley continue their dialog, Butler said.

“We were really close to wrapping up a settlement that would have been good for all Navajo people. It would have given us a real opportunity to address all of the problems of the Navajo Nation government; not just how many people sit in the Council chambers,” Morgan said.

“I’m worried that the continued delay will put all of that in jeopardy. I know how tough it is for the president to schedule his time, but I wish our meetings could have been given a much higher priority for the sake of the Navajo people and their government.”

Hardeen said the speaker requested discussions in May and the president readily agreed.

“The speaker requested a cessation of critical news releases, and the president agreed to that, too. It was understood when the talks began that the attorneys would communicate with each other, and they are.

“The president has not had a phone call from the speaker about any disappointment on the speaker’s part,” Hardeen said.

An inquiry sent to Albert Hale, an attorney representing President Shirley, was met with the response that the president will not be ready to meet with the Speaker until Aug. 4.

Butler said Morgan feels it is critical that he and president meet and push forward with a settlement following a decision by the Navajo Supreme Court.

On July 21, Shirley and Morgan reached a tentative settlement based on the president’s position that the Council, in addition to the Navajo people, could amend Section 102(A) of Title II of the Navajo Nation Code.

Morgan said the Supreme Court told both parties that the Council does not have that authority, nor does the president, thus, the settlement was out the window.

“I thought it was important that we immediately move to find another basis for settlement,” Morgan said, and offered to be available any evening after the conclusion of Council’s summer session last week.