the Beast couldn't care less about anything farther upstate than Yonkers... and that area votes against her anyway, so it's doubly screwed.
Posted on 12/08/2005 9:21:05 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
The three federal lawmakers representing constituents affected by the Cayuga Nation land claim in Cayuga County have demonstrated distinct approaches to the crucial issue of land-in-trust applications.
With the news this week that the Cayugas have officially requested some of their holdings be placed in trust - which would remove them from the tax rolls and essentially make them sovereign - it is now time for these members of Congress to make their voices heard.
So far, only Sen. Charles Schumer is serving land claim residents properly on this key question. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert has done some good work, but he could do more. And Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has basically evaded the issue.
Residents and local government officials need to push these three individuals to present a unified message to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs that placing lands in trust in populated places like Union Springs is a terrible idea.
Democrat Schumer has made this point publicly, but his Senate colleague has been absent. Her office has not responded to questions about her stance from The Citizen. We have to wonder if her reluctance to stand up for a small group of upstate constituents has anything to do with possible aspirations for nationwide office.
Clinton, though, should remember that the first race in front of her is for the U.S. Senate, and her work on land claim issues will have significant impact on how much support she receives from voters in this region.
We're pleased that Boehlert has pushed for a more thorough review - and extended public comment period - in the Oneida Indian Nation land-in-trust case. He needs to do the same thing for the Cayugas' case.
More importantly, he needs to take a clear stance that granting land-in-trust status would be a mistake.
On a host of issues - from casinos to economic development - Boehlert often says that he takes his directions from the people in the communities he represents. He should have no doubt about how this region feels about placing these lands in trust.
Upstate NY ping
the Beast couldn't care less about anything farther upstate than Yonkers... and that area votes against her anyway, so it's doubly screwed.
Naturally, the beeeeg Hamptons money lining Chuckie's pockets is the key factor.
I'm sorry...I looked at this issue a long time ago.
I think the Iroquois are on the right side of this one morally and legally.
If the Iroquois are smart...they'll let the people living there stay there and charge them much less in taxes.
Actually, the Cayugas land claim case was thrown out of court earlier this year. The issue now is that they are basically asking the federal BIA to give them a "checkerboard" reservation on two counties in upstate New York.
It's that checkerboarding that most local landowners disapprove of. You can have two parcels side by side and one is tax free and regulation free and one isn't. This drives down the value of the "non Indian" parcel and typically drives out competing businesses.
Take it all away from them and give it to someone willing to pay more taxes, oh wait they can't do that in this country..... um...
HAHAHA
That was hilarious!
Until I thought about it for 30 seconds.
Breyer and Stphens need to be kicked off the Supreme Court. That ruling is the stuff that *real* civil wars are made of.
Already, it's just a matter of time before someone says "NO" and startings shooting over it.
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