Content about Raymond Red Corn

If you’re good friends with Principal Chief John Red Eagle, or married to a member of the Osage Congress, you might get to travel the country on the Nation’s dime.

According to records obtained by the Osage News, Principal Chief John Red Eagle authorized for Rod Hartness, a local professional steer roper, who reportedly attends Chief Red Eagle’s church in the Pawhuska Indian Village, to travel to Portland, Ore., to attend the prestigious annual conference of the National Congress of American Indians last November at the expense of the Nation.

During the 14th Special Session, the Second Osage Nation Congress passed a resolution calling for a special election to be held Aug. 13. The special election date follows the recommendation of the ON Election Board, which decided on the Aug. 13 election during its Jan. 18 meeting.

There are six expiring Congressional terms up for grabs, so the June 4 ballot will contain names of those candidates seeking office and will also contain questions on seven proposed Constitutional amendments unrelated to the Minerals Estate.

Osage Casinos are now authorized to borrow money from other lenders rather than dipping into the Osage Nation’s coffers.

The Second Osage Nation Congress voted 6-4 to pass ONCA 12-18, which authorizes the Gaming Enterprise to seek a loan up to $27.1 million from a banking institution for Osage Casino expansion projects. The bill’s approval came on the final day of the 12th Special Session.

A 12th Special Congressional Session called by Principal Chief John Red Eagle starts Dec. 5 to consider most of the legislative items remaining after the Second Osage Nation Congress ended the 11th Special Session on Nov. 15 on its fourth day.

Congress unanimously voted to end the Special Session pending a review sought by the Executive Branch regarding the Nation’s appropriation laws for funding government operations. The Congress and Treasurer William Kemble are at odds over the appropriation laws, which govern how tribal government money is allocated.

Osage Nation Principal Chief John Red Eagle signed the Merit Pay for Performance into law Oct. 4, just in time for the new fiscal year.

Five years in the making, the Merit Pay for Performance is mandated in the Osage Constitution and was one of the initiatives in the Osage Nation Strategic Plan that Osages from all over the country wanted to see implemented for Osage Nation employees when the new government was formed in 2006.

Osage Nation employees got their way Sept. 29 when Congresswoman Shannon Edwards withdrew an amendment to cut Executive Branch funding for Merit Pay for Performance for fiscal year 2012.

About 20 protesters showed up with signs outside the Osage Congressional Chambers before the session started that read: “Don’t Be Square Be Fair!”; “We Voted You In – But Not Again!”; “You don’t Merit My Vote!”; and many more.

A written report on the Osage Nation Congressional subpoena meetings with Treasurer William Kemble and Accounting staff in July has been forwarded to the entire Congress after receiving initial approval from a Congressional Committee on Day 2 of the Tzi-Zho Session.

The Second Osage Nation Congress confirmed three Osages who will sit on the Election Board, as well as one alternate board member during the April 13 Hun-Kah Session.

Walter Hopper, Shannon Lockett and Terry Hazen were unanimously confirmed for the board, as was Suzanne Moore who will be an alternate board member.

The Second Osage Nation Congress voted unanimously to raise the hourly minimum wage for ON government employees to $10 on April 7 during the Hun-Kah Session. The wage increase targets nearly 50 positions, some of which pay just about the federal minimum wage level of $7.25 per hour.

The raise will take effect Oct. 1 if signed by Principal Chief John Red Eagle.

The bill (ONCA 11-27) also seeks a second minimum wage increase to $11.50 in October 2013 when FY 2014 starts.

With just over a year to go before the 2012 election, the Second ON Congress is considering a new election code for the Nation during the Hun-Kah Session. The amended code contains changes to the election law for the Principal Chief, Assistant Principal Chief and Congress.

One of those changes includes a requirement for the chief and assistant chief to run on a single ticket as well as revised timelines for elections, primary elections and special elections.

The Second Osage Nation Congress ended its third Special Session on Nov. 12 by passing five bills and two resolutions. A bill seeking to modify the Nation’s Gaming Reform Act regarding litigation and legal matters was also voted down before Congress adjourned.

ONCA 11-02 (sponsored by Congressman Mark Simms) is “an act to provide for protections to the Osage Nation on legal matters of Osage gaming” which failed with seven “no” votes over five “yes” votes.

The Osage Congress ended its first Tzi-Zho Session on Oct. 7 with confirmations for the Nation’s second Treasurer and the second Gaming Enterprise Board member. A third board member, an interim appointment made by Principal Chief John Red Eagle, was made last week.