HERE AT NAVAJO COUNCIL WINTER SESSION AND COUNCIL DEBATING ADOPTION OF ITS AGENDA.

DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
I have emergency legislation that is still being worked on because Legislative Counsel has been very busy. And so I ask that the Council agenda remain open so that the addition of my bills will not require 2/3 vote. Otherwise it will take much longer to add my legislation. If the Council agenda remains open, my legislation can be added to the agenda by simple majority.

DELEGATE DWIGHT WITHERSPOON
In consideration of Tsosie, i ask that 0017-15 become (B) and 0011-15 would be at the end and hopefully by then Tsosie’s legislation would be ready and could be added before 0011-15.

DELEGATE EDMUND YAZZIE
What is the legislation from Tsosie? I thought we debated this and that legislation returns to committees. So what are the emergency legislation?

SPEAKER PRO TEM KEE ALLEN BEGAY
Let’s deal with amending legislation first.

VOTE ON AMENDING AGENDA, 23 IN FAVOR, 0 OPPOSED

POINT OF PRIVILEGE, DELEGATE ALTON SHEPHERD
We are in Council setting and so Council rules apply.

DELEGATE EDMUND YAZZIE
I asked a question of Tsosie.

DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
We had a good prayer this morning and I don’t want to be accused of being sneaky. I understand we have rules and all i said was to keep agenda open cuz attorneys busy. It was a respectful request and so why do we have to argue over it. One legislation regards making election sooner and it’s an emergency matter. it affects every navajo person, it affects the leadership. the other one is something we talked about somewhat before introduced and it’s for write-in process and take care of election in one shot. discussed how to address disenfranchised voters. one on web but not other but we talked about. those are my unsneakey legislation.

SPEAKER PRO TEM BEGAY
We have to go thorough processes.

DELEGATE LORENZO BATES
Speaker Pro Tem Begay, you need to make a decision. And if you look to our rules, there is nothing in our rules for an open ended agenda. So make decision if Council follows rules or not.

I don’t think I have to make a ruling. all i said was that the addition of legislation would require 13 “yes” votes.

DELEGATE MEL BEGAY
this subject being talked about, I also have legislation that is emergency. and regarding Bates’ comment, it deals with rules but there should be deeper discussion regarding the addition of legislation with 2/3 vote. And many legislation from 22nd Council expired and 23rd Council needs to understand that. And each legislation can be debated on their own merits as it comes before Council.

VOTE ON ADOPTING AGENDA, 23 IN FAVOR, 0 OPPOSED