That is not the way it should be done, and I am not going to have that type of thing happen again.
Congress' authority over Indian affairs is established in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.
I want to take your help and put it in the business.
I suggest, respectfully, that you and each person at that table give us some suggestions.
This is my intent--to make things clear, more positive, consistent.
where the Department had received its authority to acknowledge tribes.
We are here to try to solve a problem. You may not agree, but this is what this hearing is about, not to sit here and make a partisan issue ...
I bet you are happy about that. And how do I know who else is going to be sitting in that chair? How does a tribe know?
So, let's give the tribes the ability to have checks and balances, as well, and not put that complete authority in the hands of the Chairman...
That was my bill, you know. That was my bill.
We need to honestly put people above this partisanship, and solutions above ideology.