Montana Tribal Legislative Caucus works across aisle

The bi-annual session of the Montana Legislature will convene the first Monday of January, 2023.

The legislature is now dominated by extremely conservative Republicans. The House of Representatives and the Senate includes far more Republicans than Democrats. The Republicans are in control, and not known to be particularly friendly to minority interests.

On the other hand, there are a handful of Native American legislators – about a dozen.  Most are Democrats, excepting the lone Republican, Jason Small, a Northern Cheyenne in the first two years of a four-year term.

The first two tribal member elected officials in 1987 first formed the Indian Caucus. Senator Small explained that the caucus is a group of legislators with similar legislative goals. It includes the tribal member legislators and others who have native constituents. “We focus on the issues, rather than partisan politics. We move ‘across the floor’ to gain necessary votes. Sometimes we ask a non-Indian person to carry a bill for more favorable odds.”

In 1987, Small recalled there were only two tribal members elected to the Montana Legislature. “They decided they needed to stick together and look for support from other members sympathetic to our causes,” he explained.

An example of a sympathetic friend would be Senator Jen Gross, a non-Indian representing Billings, the largest city in Montana, including a significant number of Native Americans.  Gross carried a bill to allow Native students to wear traditional regalia at graduation ceremonies, quite a controversial issue at the time. “That was a good example of bi-partisan cooperation” Small remarked.

During the session, the Indian Caucus meets at least weekly and more often if necessary. Things can change from minute to minute, Small says. They also join together for a dinner at the Red Lion in Helena, where many legislative deals and strategies are discussed by legislators and lobbyists.

When the Legislature is out of session, the Caucus keeps in contract through ZOOM sessions, regular phone calls, and ongoing group discussion to establish legislative goals. “It is ever a moving target” the Senator said.

The odds for gaining passage of new legislation favorable to Indians in the 2023 session are rather dim.

That is also why the Montana Legislative Caucus is now preparing a defensive campaign to preserve existing State laws which are beneficial to Montana tribal members

The primary laws which need to be protected and funded through the appropriation process include:

The Indian Economic Development Act. This provides grants to hopeful tribal business people.

Montana Indian Language Preservation Project (MILLP) which provides grants to Tribes for language preservation.

Medicare Expansion: This program reimburses the $170 monthly premium for Medicare.

Missing Womens Persons Act funded by the State of Montana.

“We can only be helpful with the help of other good-hearted legislators,” Small commented. “That is why the Indian Caucus is critical.”

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

 

 

 

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