Greetings Relatives/Frens/Humans,
I’m reporting this because I noticed that the wrong Legislation was posted regarding the Junk Food Tax. And there was Council debate that was associated with Navajo Oil and Gas Company, instead of Junk Food Tax and eliminated of sales tax of certain healthy foods. And so here is the corrected post regarding the Council’s overrides of President Shelly’s vetos of the Junk Food Tax and removal of sales tax of certain healthy foods. I’ve also added a photo and the Voting Tallies.

And during the Council’s debate on the two Overrides, I started having problems with my WIFI connection dropping and so I tried listening to presentations and debate while I rebooted my WIFI. I apologize for the inconvenience but that’s WIFI on the Navajo Reservation. I think that the very strong winds had something to do with my WIFI connection dropping. I’m also working on the video recording of the Council’s debate of the two overrides.

Anyway, here is my corrected and updated post:
NAVAJO COUNCIL ON LEGISLATION 0083-14, OVERRIDING PRESIDENT SHELLY’S VETO OF NAVAJO COUNCIL RESOLUTION CJA-01-4, WHICH IS THE HEALTHY DINE’ NATION ACT OF 2013 OR JUNK FOOD TAX LAW. THE HEALTHY DINE’ NATION ACT OF 2013 WOULD TAX SODA, SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGES, AND JUNK FOOD SOLD ON THE NAVAJO RESERVATION.

SPONSOR, DELEGATE JONATHAN HALE makes brief introduction of individuals sitting with him, who will speak in support of the Council’s override of presidential veto. The people with him are Dine’ Community Advocacy Alliance representative Shirley Montoya and Television Broadcaster for Golf Channel and NBC Notah Begay, who is more well known as a full-time professional golfer on the PGA Tour.

NOTAH BEGAY
Everyone in room is affected by diabetes. So much of messaging getting lost here is because of politics and veto. It sends strong message to younger generation that leadership not advocating for them. I travel a lot and meet with many people. issues is same, one of two children get diabetes type 2 and I can’t stand by. No piece of legislation is perfect. There are clauses in legislation that allows for more discussion in future.
If look beyond politics and long term vision for children. I talked with students from surrounding schools and they wanted to be athletes but not golfers. Laughter. I always come across Dine’ people that are doing good for themselves and others. Urban Indians working for better life. This wud show government speaking for them. This not sole solution but part of solution. We tell children not to be part of problem but part of solution.
I hope we over-ride this for healthier Navajo Nation.

DELEGATE MEL BEGAY
I want to ask question to help me make decision especially if other communities are increasing taxes. Diabetes caused by immobility of person and so will we tax vehicles cuz problem of immobility.

DELEGATE HALE
This morning, Department of Health said 21 percent of 300.000 Navajo people, which is population of Navajo Nation suffer from Type 2 Diabetes.

VOTING ON OVERRIDE OF PREZ SHELLY VETO OF CJA-04-14 JUNK FOOD TAX, AT 2:19 PM
13 IN FAVOR, 7 OPPOSED
LEGISLATION FAILS BECAUSE NEEDED 16 “YES” VOTES WHICH IS SUPER MAJORITY VOTE.

COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY GOES LEGISLATION 0084-14, WHICH ALSO AN OVERRIDE BUT THIS OVERRIDE IS OF PRESIDENT SHELLY’S VETO OF THE COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION CJA-05-14, WHICH REMOVES THE TAX ON CERTAIN HEALTHY FOODS SUCH AS FRESH FRUITS, VEGETABLES, SEEDS, NUTS, AND WATER.

SPONSORS ARE OBVIOUSLY DISAPPOINTED WITH COUNCIL’S FAILURE TO OVER-RIDE JUNK FOOD TAX BILL AND SO SPONSOR, DELEGATE JONATHAN HALE, WAIVES OFF PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL TO OVERRIDE PRESIDENT SHELLY’S VETO OF REMOVAL OF TAX ON CERTAIN HEALTHY FOODS.

DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
I want to hear from Delegate Hale on override of veto of Non-taxation of healthy foods.

DELEGATE HALE MAKES VERY BRIEF STATEMENT.

VOTE ON OVER-RIDE, AT 2:22 PM
19 in favor, 1 opposed APPLAUSE

VOTE ON LEGISLATION 0083-14, OVERRIDE OF PRESIDENT SHELLY’S VETO OF JUNK FOOD TAX, WHICH FAILED BECAUSE 16 “YES” VOTES WERE REQUIRED FOR THE OVERRIDE. THE COUNCIL VOTE WAS 13 IN FAVOR, 7 OPPOSED.
13 DELEGATES VOTING “YES”
GEORGE APACHITO
NELSON BEGAYE
RUSSELL BEGAYE
LORENZO CURLEY
CHARLES DAMON II
JONATHAN HALE
JONATHAN NEZ
LEONARD PETE
ALTON SHEPHERD
DANNY SIMPSON
LEONARD TSOSIE
DWIGHT WITHERSPOON
EDMUND YAZZIE

7 DELEGATES VOTING “NO”
ELMER BEGAY
MEL BEGAY
KATHERINE BENALLY
WALTER PHELPS
ROSCOE SMITH
DAVID TOM
DUANE TSINIGINE

COUNCIL’S VOTE ON OVERRIDING VETO OF COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO REMOVE SALES TAX ON CERTAIN HEALTHY FOODS WAS 19 IN FAVOR, 1 OPPOSED.
19 DELEGATES VOTING “YES”
GEORGE APACHITO
ELMER BEGAY
MEL BEGAY
NELSON BEGAYE
RUSSELL BEGAYE
KATHERINE BENALLY
LORENZO CURLEY
CHARLES DAMON II
JONATHAN HALE
JONATHAN NEZ
LEONARD PETE
WALTER PHELPS
ALTON SHEPHERD
DANNY SIMPSON
DAVID TOM
DUANE TSINIGINE
LEONARD TSOSIE
DWIGHT WITHERSPOON
EDMUND YAZZIE

1 DELEGATE VOTING “NO”
ROSCOE SMITH