• About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Mortgage Insurance Center
  • Home
  • Mortgages
  • Health Insurance
  • Home Insurance
  • Life insuranace
  • Finance Laws
    • Banking Laws
    • Assets
    • Interest Rate
    • Loans
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Mortgages
  • Health Insurance
  • Home Insurance
  • Life insuranace
  • Finance Laws
    • Banking Laws
    • Assets
    • Interest Rate
    • Loans
No Result
View All Result
Mortgage Insurance Center
No Result
View All Result
Home Finance Laws

Ending “Dark Money” in Cherokee Elections

by Matthew Upton
June 5, 2022
in Finance Laws
0
Ending “Dark Money” in Cherokee Elections
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

[ad_1]

Details
By Chuck Hoskin Jr


June 05, 2022

Guest Opinion. Dark money corrupts. Democracy dies in the dark. But, the sovereign government of the Cherokee Nation Reservation is fighting back with recent election law reforms that demand transparency.

Let us start with the facts: Our longstanding election laws require transparency and accountability with respect to campaign donations. Donation limits, mandatory disclosure and prohibition against “independent expenditures” are all hedges against corruption embedded in Cherokee law. I believe our campaign finance laws were among the strongest in the country even before the latest reforms.

But, the 2019 election exposed some weaknesses in our laws. It is true that a candidate in 2019 was disqualified for illegally coordinating with an illegal entity operated by non-Indians out of Oklahoma City. Public hearings, including by our Supreme Court, disclosed this attempt to cheat and to steal an election by a group called “Cherokees for Change.” The law held one lawbreaker accountable. However, the law left many involved in the illegal scheme unscaur elections. Perhaps others are circling the Cherokee Nation with the same plans.

Never miss Indian Country’s biggest stories and breaking news. Sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation recently took action after literally years of careful review of our election code. I proposed, and the council enacted, the country’s strongest ban on dark money. The law passed 15-0, with two councilors absent. Deputy Speaker Victoria Vazquez said she sponsored the legislation so that “people, not outside corporate interests, control our democracy.” She is spot on. 

I proudly signed the reforms into law earlier this month alongside Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. The law reinforces the ban on the kind of anonymous and unlimited piles of cash that illegally poured into our 2019 elections from Oklahoma City. But, the law now punishes those who donate to these illegal entities with stiff criminal and civil penalties. 

As Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh said, “The message we are sending today is that this is not 2019; you won’t get away with corruption.”

The ban on dark money is a true exercise of our tribal sovereignty and a win for government transparency. While other nations may be content with unlimited, unregulated, anonymous campaign contributions, the Cherokee Nation is not. Sixteen of 17 council members expressed support for this basic idea: The Cherokee people deserve to know who is contributing to candidates for public office.

The law did not hold accountable the people who funneled an unknown amount of money into the election. We may never know the full extent of the corruption, who made donations and what they hoped to gain from their scheme. Perhaps these same outside interests are regrouping to again try to buy oAs I reflect on our Nation’s bold stand against corruption, my thoughts turn to the current election campaigns in Oklahoma. Recently, I pushed back on politicians in Oklahoma who are claiming Cherokee sovereignty is “the greatest threat” and that our reservations should be “disestablished.” A number of powerful politicians seem to fear Cherokee Nation making its own laws and protecting the public interest. 

Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

From the perspective of anti-Indian politicians, maybe our sovereignty is a threat. It is certainly a threat to the corrupt influence of those who would try to secretly buy our elections. 

I firmly believe that some of the same anti-Indian interests who want to destroy our reservat

Never miss Indian Country’s biggest stories and breaking news. Sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

ions are busy hatching a “plan B” to try to control tribal governments. The Cherokee people and their representatives will not stand for it. No wonder some of these anti-sovereignty politicians are scared.

We are sovereign. The Cherokee people demand transparency. The days of corrupt dark money in Cherokee politics are over.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.

More Stories Like This

Walking Where My Grandmother Walked: My Journey to Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School Museum
Vote Against Politicians Who Consider Tribal Sovereignty a “Threat”
Remembering Lori Piestewa This Memorial Day: “All Give Some, Some Gave All”
Kamloops Woke Up the World to the Subject of Indian Boarding Schools 

About The Author

Author: Chuck Hoskin JrEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.




[ad_2]

Source link

Previous Post

Instant Loan Apps in India: Don’t fall prey to scams; important points to consider before taking loans online

Next Post

Hurricane season 2022 in NC: Do you need flood insurance?

Next Post
Hurricane season 2022 in NC: Do you need flood insurance?

Hurricane season 2022 in NC: Do you need flood insurance?

Popular Posts

Ajanta Pharma : Newspaper Advertisements
Life insuranace

Taiming Assurance Broker : Announcement on behalf of the major subsidiary Link-Aim Life Insurance Broker Co.,LTD. to distribute dividends.

by Matthew Upton
July 28, 2022
0

Close Provided by: TAIMING ASSURANCE BROKER CO.,LTD. SEQ_NO 4 Date of...

Read more

Taiming Assurance Broker : Announcement on behalf of the major subsidiary Link-Aim Life Insurance Broker Co.,LTD. to distribute dividends.

20% interest rate on credit cards! Here’s how to avoid paying those high rates :: WRAL.com

Sens. Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Reintroduce the Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act – InsuranceNewsNet

$1 billion in loans still available for agricultural funding in Ohio

How Long Do Car Accidents Stay on Your Record?

Rocket Mortgage Classic Wagers: Pick To Finish Top-10

Load More

Popular Posts

Hingham DPW Workers Deserve Respect, Decent Wages and Affordable Health Insurance

Hingham DPW Workers Deserve Respect, Decent Wages and Affordable Health Insurance

by Matthew Upton
July 5, 2022
0

Propy introduces blockchain title and escrow service

Propy introduces blockchain title and escrow service

by Matthew Upton
May 26, 2022
0

Biden administration sued after fertility awareness methods cut from health coverage

by Matthew Upton
June 15, 2022
0

Ajanta Pharma : Newspaper Advertisements

Taiming Assurance Broker : Announcement on behalf of the major subsidiary Link-Aim Life Insurance Broker Co.,LTD. to distribute dividends.

July 28, 2022

20% interest rate on credit cards! Here’s how to avoid paying those high rates :: WRAL.com

July 28, 2022
Edelweiss General Insurance launches India’s first on-demand, mobile telematics-based comprehensive motor insurance – SWITCH

Sens. Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Reintroduce the Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act – InsuranceNewsNet

July 28, 2022

Categories

  • Assets
  • Banking Laws
  • Finance Laws
  • Health Insurance
  • Home Insurance
  • Interest Rate
  • Life insuranace
  • Loans
  • Mortgages

Tags

home loans mortgage personal loan
  • Privacy Policy
  • contact us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • contact us
  • Home
  • Home 2
  • Home 3
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.