Bill would combine Indian and Latino-American commissions

The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony Jan. 27 on a measure that would create the Commission on Indian and Multicultural Affairs by combining the existing Indian Affairs and Latino-American commissions.

Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery, sponsor of LB172, said the bill resulted from budget discussions undertaken by the committee during the interim. Those discussions included the possibility of eliminating both commissions, he said, given the budget constraints facing the state.

“My purpose was to provide the Legislature with an alternative to complete elimination of these advocacy groups,” he said, “and, at the same time, still capture some savings for the state.”

Avery said a new entity would ensure that cultural minorities retain a voice in public policy discussions, while opening up opportunities for the state’s growing Asian, Sudanese and other communities.

Among the commission’s duties would be:

• promoting state and federal legislation beneficial to Indian and multicultural communities in Nebraska;
• coordinating existing housing, education, medical, employment and economic development activities;
• working with other state and federal agencies and elected officials to develop new programs; and
• providing information and education to the public.

No one testified in support of the measure, but over a dozen opponents expressed concerns to the committee.

Judi gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, testified in opposition to the bill, saying the current commission has a unique mission to represent Nebraska’s sovereign tribes.

“We are offended when we are included as minorities,” she said. “We are not minorities; we are the first people.”

As a state agency, the Commission on Indian Affairs is able to coordinate with Nebraska’s congressional delegation, the legislature and other agencies to further the interests of the state’s native people, gaiashkibos said. Saving $86,000 a year by combining the commissions would diminish the ability of both to accomplish their missions, she said.

“When you try to balance the budget of the state of Nebraska on the poorest of people,” gaiashkibos said, “I don’t think that’s something to be proud of.”

Jennifer Bear Eagle, current chairperson of the Commission on Indian Affairs, also opposed the bill, saying it fails to acknowledge the unique legal and political relationship between the tribes and state government. That relationship is based on the sovereign status of the tribes and not on race, she said.

“Nebraska cannot simply ignore its own government-to-government relationship with the four Indian tribes located within the state,” Bear Eagle said.

Arturo Spindola, executive director of the Latino-American Commission, said the state’s Latino community faces unique and complex problems, including rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Testifying in opposition to the bill, he said Latinos need to maintain an independent advocacy agency.

“Eliminating the commission will effectively silence the voice of Latinos in Nebraska state government,” Spindola said. “There are some things you simply cannot do without: hope, pride [and] the right to have your voice heard.”

UNL professor of sociology Miguel Carranza also testified against the bill, saying the state’s growing Latino population is key to Nebraska’s economic future. The state’s overall population has grown 14 percent in the last 30 years, he said, while its Latino population has grown over 400 percent.

“The future of Nebraska hinges largely on how effectively we integrate new generations of Latinos,” Carranza said.

The Latino-American Commission is an important component in that integration, he said, which includes enhancing educational opportunities within the Latino community.

“We get our dollars back with high school and college graduates,” Carranza said.

Under LB172, the proposed new commission would consist of 10 members appointed by the governor to four-year terms. Six members would be enrolled tribal members. Three of the four remaining members would be appointed so that one represents each of the three most populous census categories, excluding the categories of White or American Indian. The final member would be an at-large representative.

Avery said he was willing to amend the proposal to increase the at-large representation to three members in response to concerns expressed by the Latino community that they would be underrepresented.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.