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Show Pice 2 - September S. 1995 c Editorial Uintah Basin Standard BIA Budget Cuts May Not Be the Answer, Congress The Ute Tribe, along with every Indian tribe in the nation, is facing congressional BIA budget cuts for Fiscal Year 1996, which begins October 1 , to the tune of $255 million. So serious is the amount of lost revenue that tribal government is in a panic. Now, the first reaction of many people, including those of us living here on the reservation, is to say Hey, federal budget cuts have to hit somewhere if we ever hope to cut spending deficit. Why not the BIA, where everything is paid for by the government? So what if they have to make do with less? It s about time." We all tend to believe that budget cuts are appropriate when its someone else who has to deal with them. But the problem is far more complicated than simply cutting the federal deficit. Regardless of whose fault it is, tribal government is dependent on funding through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. To take away millions of dollars suddenly is like quitting smoking cold turkey. Theres some real pain involved. Yank the rug out from under someone with no warning, and they will surely fall. But in addition to the problems it will cause for the tribe, already in an economic and political uproar, the absence of those dollars will be felt throughout the Basin. Less money is less money, whether its county government or Indian government. Projects will be cut, jobs and job training will be eliminated, services will suffer. For instance, if the BIA budget cuts go into effect, 151 cases of tribal foster care will have to be handled by only two case workers. Thats 75 cases per caseworker, when the recommended caseload is no more than 20 per caseworker. Its not hard to imagine what that deficiency will do to an already suffering segment of society. Indian students, whose educational background is usually vastly different from the average white child, rely heavily on tutoring and scholarships to succeed. Both tutoring funds (via money to public schools) and scholarships will be deeply cut by the federal BIA budget slash. The DARE program (which teaches kids to courageously avoid alcohol and drugs) would be abandoned - on a reservation where 75 percent of health care is drug and alcohol-relate- d. There are numerous oil and gas, timber, road and other projects now being accomplished through the BIA. Many are joint projects of the BIA and local entities. They supply jobs and economic security for tribal members and others. How many of us want to see those abandoned? Can we really measure the loss in dollars alone? Tribal Law enforcement will be drastically cut, with attendant problems that speak louder than economics. These are just examples of identifiable areas. What else might be affected that no one has recognized? The problem with government money is usually not the amount, but the way it is spent. We want to the tribe learn to accomplish more on their own with less government money, and surely thats the intent of Congress. We would support the budget cuts, if it meant the tribe would instantly know how and be able to function independently of government assistance. But thats a premise that seasy to say and not so easy to do. If everyone used federal funds in an efficient manner, the federal budget would diminish on its own. In reality, it just doesnt work that way. It takes yean to team financial conservativism and efficiency, particularly if its never been part of your system; the Bureau of Indian Affairs, of which the BIA is part, is an inherently bureaucratic system. Almost any government and those who agency is efficiency-illiterat- e, depend on the funds are not really to blame. We hope that, if indeed these spending cuts go through, they will be a stimulus to The tribe as a greater whole, and even Native Americans throughout the country would be better off if they would, through personal effort and effective administration, take care of themselves with- out government subsidy. Per capita income up in Duchesne, but falls in Uintah County Although per capita income in area residents did taka home a Duchesne County still foils for little more in last war than the below the $17,043 state average. year before, while Uintah County. UTAH PER CAPITA INCOME BY COUNTY 1994 Percent 1994 Per Capita County Change Income- ' u Carbon Daggett But, in the meantime, we will all suffer from cuts experienced by the Ute Tribe through BIA budget slashing. Until the Ute Tribe is ready and able to function on its own, the BIA funds they rely on are nearly as essential to the Basin in general as they are to the Tribe. Pulling the rug out from under them is not the answer. 1 1993-199- 4 $15,900. $15,500 Grand Salt Lake Mi Utah rm 405 6.8 average. 33X8002 6.0 $14,200 $14,600 $15,400 $17,043 Wasatch Washington Statewide Source: U.S. Department Washington and Wayna County residents enjoyed the largest increases in per capita income last year. Wayne Countys per capita income climbed by 13.6 percent, going fiun $12,321 to $14,000 between 1993 and 1994. That increase was second only to a 14.2 percent rise for rendenta of Washington County! Because Utah has so many children 20.6 births per 1,000, compared with 16 births for even 1,000 residents nationwide - in $17,043 is consistently below the $21,409 national per capita income 15 10.2 $14,200 $19,300 residents saw their per income decrease slightly in IS According to figures released by the Utah Department of Employment Security, per capita income in Duchesne County made a gain of 2 2 percent last year to stand at $13,700. In Uintah County per capita income last year cams in at $11,800, thats a null drop of .5 percent, or $56. Uintah County waa ana of just two counties which saw per capita income decreases last year. In Daggett County per capita income Jumped by 10.2 percent to stand at 1.7 14.2 5.6 of Commerce and Utah Department of Employ- ment Security Roosevelt at Constitution Park, on Friday, Aug. 4 when Bradley Wolf, 23, was apprehended and booked into jail on a second degree felony Residents nabbed outside of area count on local charges The Uintah Basin Narcotics Strike Force recently made three more drug-relatarrests, this time however, two of the suspects were apprehended outside of the area. According to court records, on Saturday, Aug. 26 Kenneth Foster, Sr., 31, was arrested in Salt Lake City and charged with arranging for distribution distribution of ed ed the of methamphetamine. Over the past two months Strike Force members have arrested approximately a dozen Duchesne County area residents on drug-relatcharges. of EDITOR'S NOTE: The Uintah Basin Standard and welcomes encourages opinions from readers int he form of letters to the editor. Letters may be utilized to express opinions or comments, to highlight outstanding service individual of an or organization, or any other worthwhile purpose. Letters may not be used to replace Cards of Thanks, or to list sponsors, participants or contributors to a particular event or purpose. LETTERS MUST CONTAIN 400 WORDS OR LESS. BE TYPED OR WRITTEN LEGIBLY, SIGNED. AND INCLUDE NAME, ADDRESS AND NUMBER PHONE THE OF 'AUTHOR. Letters will be published unless libelous or they contain defamatory statements. We reserve the right to withould a name by request if the nature of the letter is positive, and to edit letters. Letters may be submitted ' to the Standard office at 268 S. 200 E, Utah, 84066 Roosevelt, by the deadline In an effort to help solve published (normally weitidde Uintah County School Thursdays at 5:00 p.m.) All letters type become property of the Uintah Basin issues, an information meeting will be held September 7, Standard. 18-ye- ar Westside issue to be discussed in open meeting 1995 at 7 pjn. at the West Middle School auditorium, to give information about what would happen if the school district line were changed. Where the line would be, and. who and how this would affect westside Uintah County residents. Information will also be given as to what could be expected ifa high school were built on the westside of Uintah County. Those planning the meeting would hope that all those involved in the school issues would support this meeting. An invitation has been extended to both schoolboarda to have someone come to give this information. Flash flood forces campers to flee I sure hope you vote the Will of the people of Utah and of the United states of America. Thank you very much, Vem Peterson, Utah American ' Legion State Vice Commander ' Flag Amendment support sought Dear Editor I tun urging area residents to writ to Senator Bob Bennett with the following menage- - The time is getting vary cloaa for tha vote on (S J Rea 31) a Constitutional Amendment to grant Congress and tha State the power to prohibit the physical deeecration of the Flag of tha United Statee of America. Utah was one of tha first States ore Arlin Potter, an "Old Timer from Talmage who now resides in Salt Lake City, says Talmage is unsurpassed for its tall tales. He passes along the following story: "It is reported that JJ came into the Larsen store and saw a bunch of "the boys standing by the counter swapping yams. JJ was anxious to tell about the deer he had poached. When he was through, a stranger in the group said, "Do you know who A flash flood Saturday night on Red Creek Road west of Duchesne lam?" forced campers at Strawberry JJ said, "No, who arc you?" Pinnacles to find higher ground. "Im die game warden, was the According to Bran Burt, of the reply. Duchesne County Road Department, JJ laughed and said, "Do you boulders at least 4 feet square know who I am?" blocked Red Creek Road. He said The warden said, "No, who are one boulder even made a 6 foot you?" trench. Falling rocks and boulders JJ said, "Im JJ and everyone also came within 50 feet of hitting knows Im the biggest liar in debris. six nearby camp trailers. Talmage!" No injuries were reported. While we are retraining, Medicaid means that our children will be able to get check-upOr if they get hurt and need ati tehee, Second Class postage paid at Roosevelt and (USPS Duchesne, Utah they!! get them. Published weekly at 268 S. 200 E.. Roosevelt, Utah 84066--3 of will aenae our But 09 security your family may need it someday Deer Editor: Soma people think Medicaid is for poor people. TheyYe wrong. My husband Robert and I are ordinary working people. Robert waa a line operator in a twine factory until hu arm was severely dislocated by a machine, pretty ' much killing two of his fingers. I used to work on a milk bottle assembly line, but mv work frayed tha tendons in my shoulder. Now neither of us can work for more than two hours at a stretch without excruciating pain, so our factory Job are gone. Ana with our Jobs gone, our health insurance is gone, too. Workers compensation doesn't give it doesn't us our health back-a- nd give us health insurance. Thank God for Medicaid. Its bad enough to have your daily life totally turned upside down and to see your bfos dreams dashed by injuries on the job. But how could wa go on at all if ws didn't have Medicaid aa a safety net? Medicaid is making it possible for us to get retrained and back on our foot Now that we can no longer work on assembly lines, weVs retraining for work wa can do. Robert will soon be certified in architectural drafting and Im learning mechanical drafting. WeVa going to work out of our home, where we can set our own hours and work at our own pace. That way wa can stop before it hurte-befwe do more damage to ourselves and end up crippled. But well always work hard; we believe deeply in the value of work. Georg Adams, director of emergency management far the county, said his main concern was with a man who had a heart transplant and was left without medication during the evacuation. Adams said the rains came along with the "wont lightening storm hed ever i It took road crews about five hours to reopen one side of the toad to allow access by traffic. Road crews are continuing to remove By Vicky Garcia Dont cut Medicaid,: in Duchesne methamphetamine County. The third degree felony count is punishable by a term of 5 years in prison. Foster was taken to the Salt Lake County jail pending transfer to the Duchesne County jaiL On Friday, Aug. 25, Strike old Force members arrested John R. "Fish'Hansen, at a residence in BounOfuL Banserils charged with three second degree felony counts of distribution of methamphetamine. He was brought to die Duchesne County jail and held on $30,000 bond. The third arrest occurred in , to pass a resolution to protect the Flag. At this time 49 States have passed a resolution to protect Old Glory. Also 82 of the American people want the ammendment Uintah Basin Standard Inc. e. 646-90- 1 does, wen payii dose attention to the battle over federal budget and tha cuts in Medicaid. If votea in fever of these drastic cuts-- if they kill Medical we will all loot the only safety net weve got I recently called Senator Hatchs office to aak him to protect Medicaid. As a member of tha Senate Finance Committee which deals with Medicaid, Senator Hatch has a unique opportunity to defend this program, 1 just him to know that there i people here in Utah who would be devastated without Medicaid. Medicaid has given us the second chance we need. My husband and I worked vary hard at our factory jobs. Wa followed tha rules, and wa paid our taxes. But ws were innocent victims of workplace infuries. Tragedies like that can happen to anyone. Medicaid is a safety net that middle-clas- s g millions of Americans need. In a safety net you may need someday. Congress should not destroy Mechcaid-th- ey should protect it. Sincerely, Molly Bottom d-- ' POSTMASTER: Send addres changes to the Uintah Basin Standaid at 268 S. 200 E. Roosevelt, Utah S4066-310-9 OFFICE HOURS: 8:00 a.m. to 1 :00 p.m. Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday tfrni Friday. 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