An Act
Legislative Act # 8 -97
Title
AN ACT AMENDING TITLE 19, � 21 OF THE CHEROKEE NATION CODE ANNOTATED. BE IT ENACTED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION:
Body
SECTION ONE. CODIFICATION.
This act shall be codified in title 19 of the Cherokee Nation Code Annotated. SECTION TWO. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to amend laws pertaining to Council Stipends. SECTION THREE. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
This Act was approved by the Rules Committee on March 20, 1997 and approved by the Council on May 12,. 1997.
SECTION FOUR. TITLE 19, � 21 OF THE CHEROKEE NATION CODE ANNOTATED IS HEREBY AMENDED AS FOLLOWS:
Council members shall not receive a salary for conducting the official duties of their office. Council members shall receive a Council stipend in the amount of $60000 per month, plus a Committee stipend in the amount of $800.00 per month.
SECTION FIVE. TITLE 19, � 22 OF THE CHEROKEE NATION CODE ANNOTATED IS HEREBY AMENDED AS FOLLOWS:
In addition to the stipends authorized by � 21 of this Title, any Council member traveling 50 miles or more round-trip to attend regular Council session or official Cherokee Tribal meetings called by the Council or Administration shall receive reimbursement for actual expenses for mileage, meals and lodging. Proper receipts must be documented and submitted to the Accounting.
SECTION SIX. SEVERABILITY.
The provision of this Act are severable and if any part of provision hereof shall be held void the decision of the Court so holding shall not affect or impair any of the remaining parts or provisions of this Act.
SECTION SEVEN. EMERGENCY DECLARED.
It being immediately necessary for the welfare of the Cherokee Nation, the Council hereby declares than an emergency exists by whereof this Act shall take
Effect and be in full force after its passage and approval.
Enacted by the Council of the Cherokee Nation on this day of MAY, 1997.
Garland Eagle, President Cherokee Nation Council
ATTEST: Mary Cooksey, Secretary Cherokee Nation Council
Approved and signed by the Principal Chief this 12TH day of MAY, 1997.
Joe Byrd, Principal Chief Cherokee Nation
ATTEST: Jennie Battles, Secretary-Treasurer Cherokee Nation
YEAS AND NAYS AS RECORDED:
Troy Poteete YEA Dora Mae Watie NAY
Sam Ed Bush NAY Nick Lay YEA
Mary Cooksey NAY Bill Baker NAY
Harold De Moss NAY Don Crittenden YEA
Paula Holder YEA Charles "Chuck" Hoskins NAY
Barbara Conness YEA Harold "Eggs" Phillips YEA
William Smoke YEA Harley L. Terrell NAY
Barbara Starr-Scott YEA
CHEROKEE NATION
P.O. Box 948 James "Garland" Eagle
Tahlequah, OK 74465-0948
918-456-0671 Deputy Principal Chief
May 22, 1997 i
Joe Byrd Principal Chief
Dear Tribal Council Member:
Re: VETO OF THE ACT AMENDING TITLE 19, �OF THE CHEROKEE NATION CODE ANNOTATED.
Legislative Act # 8-97 amending Title 19, �of the Cherokee Nation Code Annotated was passed by the Tribal Council on May 12, 1997, with a vote of eight yeas and seven nays. I am compelled to veto this Act because it does not contain language which I believe is required to provide a sufficient level of accountability back to the Cherokee people.
The language in the Amended Act is not significantly different from the language in the previous Act # 05-95. My concern with the language is that it requires no attendance or participation on the part of the Council Member, so that a Council Member could, in fact, be paid the Stipend without attendance or participation in any meeting.
I am asking that the Council consider some amended language which will provide an acceptable level of accountability to all tribal members.
Sincerely t
Joe Byrd Principal Chief