[ Home | Contents | Next | Previous | ]
From:
Date: 7/26/2006
Time: 10:31:42 PM
Remote Name: 68.35.179.151
The Cobell team have always claimed to represent Osages with IIM accounts ... some call themselves shareholders. The Osage Tribe filed a lawsuit claiming the tribe has not been paid properly for oil and gas. Virtually all the money claimed by the tribe would have gone to individuals if it had been paid properly. The government moved to dismiss the case on the grounds that the tribe had no claim; only individuals could have been harmed. The Cobell team and the tribe's lawyers carefully tiptoed around each other not to step on each other's cases. When legislation was introduced, both sides agreed to work toward passage ... if Osage is recognized and treated as unique. The legislation now pending to settle Cobell does say that Osage is unique, but nothing more. Presumably, if the legislation passes, there will be an Osage provision. And it is a settlement bill.