Here at the Navajo Nation Council where lawmakers heatly debating Legislation 0298-14 “An Action Relating To An Emergency; To Address A Matter Which Directly Threatens The Sovereignty Of The Navajo Nation; Amending Language Requirements Of The Navajo Nation”

ATTORNEY GENERAL HARRISON TSOSIE
Effect of supreme court decision is for NBOES to put election on hold and test all candidates. And if doesn’t happen, then people will come out and challenge people who do not meet criteria. And we expect that to happen in Nov. 4 general election. One way to remedy is through this emergency legislation, which says Navajo language criteria important and leave up to people.

Would this amendment impact his position as delegate?
ATTORNEY GENERAL TSOSIE
By the next election, Nov. 4, unless put back or postponed for short period of time, people use this new law to determine for themselves if meet new qualifications. So everyone at risk for standard set by Supreme Court.

CHIEF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL LEVON HENRY
Delegate Witherspoon, By asking if impaired to vote on this legislation, you have already answered that question.

Delegate Leonard Pete
This emergency legislation is like house caught on fire and people get together to develop fire code. we don’t want this language to end up in museum.