Kennedy: Land status for Narragansetts may be OK'd
11:49 AM Thu, Nov 05, 2009 | Permalink
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By John Mulligan WASHINGTON -- Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy said Thursday that he believes that a bill to reverse a U.S. Supreme Court decision blocking special land status for the Narragansett Indians could become law during this Congress. Enactment of the legislation -- which may have implications for tribes across the country -- is "likely to happen" if supporters of the measure are able to attach it to a major piece of legislation that is certain to pass both houses of Congress, Kennedy said. Kennedy was interviewed as he visited with tribal leaders from around the country at a conference that featured an emotional welcome from President Obama. In recent days the Obama administration has affirmed its support for legislation that has come to be known as "the Carcieri fix," in reference to the U.S. Supreme Court decision, named for Governor Carcieri, that went against the Narragansetts last winter. The Supreme Court ruled that the Narragansetts were ineligible to have a piece of land taken into federal trust because the special status was available only to tribes recognized by the federal government as of 1934. Tribal lands that are taken into federal trust are removed from the jurisdiction of local and state laws and taxes. 
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It seems as if we've got a whole lot of "Carcieri fixing" to do!
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Patrick... Just Go Away... Far Away
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Pretty slick! Attaching the bill to a major piece of legislation that is certain to pass. Sounds pretty under-handed to me. What chance would the bill have if it had to go through both houses standing on its own?
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I second that Tom, there is a whole whole lot of "Carcieri fixing" to do! Funny how the republican candiadte does not want anything to do with "The Don"
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Good job Congressboy. Make the Narragansetts richer at our expense. The whole sovereignity thing was a major mistake for the U.S. which, in the end, will make us all weaker.
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Typical special interest pandering by that waste Patrick Kennedy. Why doesn't he have the guts to try to pass this bill on its own merits rather that sneak it in a back door? Typical garbage brought to you by the same party that attached a hate crimes bill to a defense spending package.
Go away Patrick. You are an embarassment.
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I thought they were going to do away with special ear marks and pork per se on bills. Isn't this all part of "THE CHANGE" that we were supposed to get from this administration. Seems like more the the same old routine. As stated this is probably the only way this bill would get through.
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Great...now we can add "Indian" gaming to our growing list of useless economic development initiatives in RI. In case people are sleeping, Twin River hit the skids....and Foxwoods and Mohegan are both suffering financially. Voters keeps voting against this nonsense, but clowns like Patrick "my last name is Kennedy" keeps it alive. How about a state model that actually tries to keep RI companies in RI?
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Tom Thompson said:
It seems as if we've got a whole lot of "Carcieri fixing" to do! - Yup, the Democrats don't take any of the blame right?
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Patches forgets he was elected to represent the majority of Rhode Islanders. This guy has to go...and go at the next election. He has humiliated and disgraced this state as well as himself. Please leave, please, and take the Lynch's, Murrays, and Paiva-Weeds with you.
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it's about time! the tribe was nearly wiped out by the settlers, murdered near all of them... then the state created taxes on the tribe while it was under federal jurisdiction, the state acted unlawfully appropriating federal land law and claimed it as state owned property, which it never has been.... talk about taking time to settle the obvious!! bravo obama!
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give them a blood test,see if they have 50% indian blood if so recognise them as a tribe,if not move on.
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Gerry? It's about as slick as what was done to the Narrgansetts in the first place with the infamous 'rider'. Know your history...all of you. Your local tribe has been screwed a hundred different ways in their history, starting with the toxic blankets from the king. For the uninformed who wrote this will make them richer? Take a look at their reservation and the way they live? It's not good.
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Don't you know anything, the pork goes through the back door, just ask your lib dems.
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