HERE AT NAVAJO COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION WHERE THERE IS A MANEUVER BY DELEGATE CHARLES DAMON II TO REMOVE AN AMENDMENT BY DELEGATE RUSSELL BEGAYE THAT WOULD HAVE THE COUNCIL FOLLOW NAVAJO LAW THAT MANDATES THE COUNCIL TO WAIVE TRIBAL SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY WITH A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE. DELEGATE BEGAYE MADE THE AMENDMENT ON DEC. 23, 2013, AND THE COUNCIL APPROVED HIS AMENMDNET. A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE MEANS THE COUNCIL HAS TO APROVE LEGISLAITON 0367-13 WITH 16 “YES” VOTES.

DELEGATE JONATHAN NEZ
I’d like Delegate Begaye’s amendment in writing because that is the way the Council works. Thank You.

DELEGATE DUANE TSINGINE
POINT OF ORDER: Are we rescinding Delegate Begaye’s amendment or directive.

DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY
POINT OF ORDER: Delegate Begaye used that word, “amendment” and I seconded it. The amendment was “the action will require a 2/3 vote.”

DELEGATE NEZ
We get into this predictament when we don’t require amendments in writing. And this is an amendment to an amendment.

SPEAKER NAIZE
There was ruling in floor rules but now there are none so thereby Delegate Damon’s motion is in order cuz it’s just rescinding Delegate Begaye’s amendment.

DELEGATE LORENZO CURLEY
I was here participating debate but what I see now disturbs me. We are engaging in politicking to increases chances for this legislation to pass and I see Navajo Department of Justice as instigator of this politicking. And it shows impartiality. This man, Attorney General Harrison Tsosie, is suppose to be impartial but he’s acting on behalf of legislation 0367-13. That is totally wrong when already have law in statutes talk about that. I see this as an act of circumventing what the law requires. When one talks about the law, you are talking about majority votes and super majority votes. When it comes to issues of Navajo Nation financial interest, law clear – 16 votes requires. How can you play politics with that.