The Idaho Indian Affairs Council met at the state Capitol yesterday, and when asked what was up with tribal law enforcement legislation, Helo Hancock of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe said there were "no real new developments with any legislation," since the House narrowly rejected the tribe's policing bill, HB 111. "Since then, we've been beginning the process to have our officers go through the federal deputization and moving towards that alternative, so that's in the works now," he said. When Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, asked what that would mean for a non-Indian stopped for a violation on the reservation, Hancock said it would depend on what law they were violating, but said, "Under certain circumstances, that person could be arrested under federal law and then they would be ... in federal court for citation or prosecution."

Also on the council's agenda: HB 196, a bill that House Speaker Lawerence Denney introduced shortly before the council's last meeting, blindsiding tribal representatives by proposing to tax reservation cigarette sales. The council sent a letter objecting, and Nonini reported that he's received no response. "I have not heard another thing - it's been very quiet," he told the assembled tribal leaders and state officials. "I guess maybe we can think that this council is so powerful that just us writing a letter squashed the speaker of the House's legislation, that's how powerful we are." Nonini added, "And I have not wanted to push to hear another thing. ... I think there's a big push for us to be out of town, maybe by the end of next week."

Nonini said after the meeting that he's heard nothing more about the bill since the day it was introduced. "I guess no news is good news," he said. "I know the speaker has got a real strong feeling about being done next week."

---

---