"Friends" of the Tribe take notice

Today [February 23 – editor] the democratically controlled state legislature is voting on LB 6617 if I have my facts correct at this early time of information about it. Ultimately, the bill will be defeated, it would take a 2/3 vote to pass it, but that is not the point.

Here is what happened this week. In a legislative committee meeting on Tribal affairs and relations, or some similar title, bill 6617 was sent out today for a vote.

Here is the essence of the bill: that all legislative affairs would be immune to public scrutiny. No public disclosure or response to FIA demands would be necessary.

In other words a secret government.

I received this information today because a few reporters showed up for the unannounced committee meeting this week. The reporters pointed out that had it been announced there would have been 30 or so reporters there. This semi-threat did not stop the committee from releasing the bill to the floor to be voted upon.

Here is the real point of taking the time to write this LTE, I just wanted citizens who have no idea of how far the tribes are going in their interference with our government’s functions in order to strengthen their position. The Tribes contribute over 90% of their political contributions to the Democratic Party. This is how they get repaid. Do you remember “of the people, by the people and for the people”? That is almost over in this democratically controlled state.

To me this belongs in Ripley’s believe it or not. The general public’s ignorance and apathy of how the Tribes are acting, and in particular the Swinomish tribe, is just unbelievable. That is how tyrannies come about.

George D Conger

[SB 6617 is covered in a page 8 story. The Legislatre passed it by huge margins to exempt themselves from public disclosure laws following losing a court case brought by the Washington Newspapers Publishers Associaion and other regional news organizations. No newspaper owner has ever mentioned Tribes. Legislators shielding their records from the public, yes. Tribal influence no. – editor]