NAVAJO COUNCIL’S NAABIK’IYATI COMMITTEE IS LISTENING TO ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND DEBATING ADOPTION OF ITS AGENDA.

COMMITTEE MEMBER LORENZ CURLEY
There is talk of a presidential succession if Jan. 13, 2015, Inauguration comes and goes without the special election of a president. And so it is important to select a Council speaker because Navajo law specifically mandates that the Speaker serves as Interim Navajo Nation President until the people elect a President. (The Navajo Election Administration has not set a date for the special presidential election.)

i’ve always had my proposed legislation to elect a Council speaker before the Naabi and now it has been placed at the bottom today’s agenda.

Dec. 31, Poquaque lawsuit regarding Stop Predatory Gaming in New Mexico organization. They are very afraid of federal government strong-arming what Poquaques want in their lawsuit. We directed Navajo elected officials to take a position on that lawsuit and so further discussion is needed.

And Resolute Mining Company is a foreign company held by BHP, same pple that skipped out on coal mine, and it is planning to build a copper mine and Apaches very opposed to that. Apaches came here and Navajo Nation Council supported the Apaches. And our representative, Ann Kirkpatrick, supported. And Resolute copper mining attached to large military spending bill, whci was approved. Apaches consider proposed copper mining area a sacred site. And we here go to extreme to protect sacred sites. And so for our Rep. Kirkpatrick to support is a slap to our face. She comes here during election time wearing Navajo dresses, she’s in parades and everyone votes for her. Then she goes south and votes this way. Maybe it’s time to vote Republican.

COMMITTEE MEMBER EDMUND YAZZIE
Law and Order Committee, is scheduled to meet today because we have several important items to address. Resources & Development Committee is also scheduled to meet today. And so we are all very busy and today’s Naabi agenda is very lengthy.

I also asked for Delegate Tso to be be assigned to Law & Order Committee so we need to do that and also address Delegate Curley’s legislation to elect a speaker.

We also need to address the upcoming Special Elections for two Council Delegate positions.

And when we have a Naabi meeting, there should not be other committee meetings.

COMMITTEE MEMBER JONTHAN HALE
Health, Education, and Human Services Committee also needs another member.

NAABI COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM BATES
The obstacle in assigning Delegate Tso to committee, he would a non-voting member because of Title 2. If Delegate Curley’s legislation moves forward, there would be vacancy. But does it create agency issues so perhaps it might be better for Naabi to direct Speaker to appoint Delegate Tso to a committee and select a Speaker.

As far as gaming, the proposed Navajo Nation’s proposed gaming compact with New Mexico will be on the Council proposed agenda for Dec. 30, 2014.

And Law & Order Committee has quorum and they need to address some legislation so Naabi will recess for lunch.

COMMITTEE MEMBER RUSSELL BEGAYE
We need to adopt agenda so I motion to adopt agenda.

LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR TOM PLATERO READS PROPOSED AGENDAPROPOSED AGENDA.

COMMITTEE MEMBER WALTER PHELPS
Amendment to move all proposed legislation dealing with supplemental funding and appropriations and legislation for Special Election to moved up to the front of the agenda.

And so Items D, E, F, G, H, I, J, P will move forward.

NAABI VOTES ON AMENDMENT 1 TO MODIFY AGENDA – 11 in favor, 4 opposed.