This article was originally published by the Osage News and is used with permission.

Chief Red Eagle vetoes Merit-based employment bill

Posted on 30 September 2010 by Shannon Shaw

Principal Chief John Red Eagle and Assistant Principal Chief Scott BigHorse pose with their new administration. From L to R: Senior Adviser Faren Revard-Anderson, Executive Adviser Raymond Lasley, Special Assistant to the Principal Chief Linda Teeman, Special Assistant to the Assistant Principal Chief Carrie Rogers, Executive Director for Governmental Affairs Chris White, Red Eagle, BigHorse, Executive Director of Tribal Operations Deidre Bigheart, Executive Policy Analyst Leonard Maker and Communications and Special Events Director Paul Allen. Not pictured, Everett Waller. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Osage News

Principal Chief John Red Eagle issued his first veto message Tuesday, vetoing the merit-based employment bill which was passed during Monday’s session. Congress’ response: to unanimously override Red Eagle’s veto during Wednesday’s morning session.

In his veto message dated Sept. 27, Red Eagle states he is in support of a merit-based employment system for the Nation’s government employees, but is taking issue with subsections of ONCA 10-85, which calls for his office to submit job descriptions, education and work experience qualifications for all his cabinet members.

His veto message states that subsections (a-c of Section 5-B-2) “clearly overreach into the powers and authority of the Executive Branch and violate the Separation of Powers set forth in Article V, Section 2, of the Osage Nation Constitution.”

The topic of salaries and job descriptions of Red Eagle’s administration was a sticking point in during the government budget meetings held during this Tzi-Zho Session. Red Eagle was asked to provide the descriptions on his staff, but he instead submitted description summaries to Congress during a Sept. 21 meeting on the Chief’s office budget.

“The Congress is delving into management of the Office of the Principal Chief and second guessing the personnel decisions of the Executive Branch,” wrote Red Eagle, who defended his cabinet during the budget meetings. “I am responsible to the Osage Nation electorate and I will be accountable for how my office is staffed and budgeted. I need staff who will support me and the vision that I set out in my inauguration speech and my message at the opening of Congress.”

Red Eagle’s veto message was filed with the Congressional office Tuesday afternoon and the agenda for Wednesday’s Congressional session was revised to include the veto for Congressional action.

The Congress voted 11-0 to override the veto. Congressman Archie Mason was absent due to a family medical emergency.

After Wednesday’s vote, Speaker Jerri Jean Branstetter said she received a phone call from Chief Red Eagle, who was on a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with the Senate Indian Affairs committee, the night before. She said Chief Red Eagle told her that he would be willing to meet on the issue if Congress voted to override his veto.

To view Chief Red Eagle’s veto message, click here: