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BIA nominee approved by key Senate committee

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau
Published: 5/14/2009 12:11 PM
Last Modified: 5/14/2009 10:36 PM

WASHINGTON -- A key Senate committee approved the nomination Thursday of Larry EchoHawk to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., did not attend the meeting of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, but the panel's top Republican announced Coburn opposed the nomination.

Coburn's office did not respond to a request for a comment.

During his confirmation hearing last week, EchoHawk generated concern from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., over the issue of Indian gaming.

McCain told EchoHawk his answers to questions on the National Indian Gaming Commission and off-reservation gaming were not sufficient.

Since that hearing, EchoHawk submitted additional answers to the committee.

McCain also did not attend Thursday's meeting but instead submitted a statement in which he expressed disappointment in what he described as the nominee's "less than candid answers."

He said although EchoHawk would not directly implement Indian gaming law in his new post, there is a certain amount of overlap.

"I believe the federal government has a responsibility to safeguard tribal gaming revenue from organized crime, corrupting influences, and to ensure that gaming operations are fair and honest for operators and players" McCain said.

"Unfortunately, I cannot derive from Mr. EchoHawk's answers that he would agree."

Still, McCain said he does not intend to oppose the nomination.

Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., described EchoHawk as "very well qualified" for the BIA post.

He noted that for four of the last eight years, the post has been vacant, saying that record is “shameful.”

EchoHawk's written responses to senators' questions were not released during the committee meeting, but Dorgan expressed satisfaction the nominee has expressed his commitment to working on the significant challenges facing the agency.

EchoHawk is a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.

He was born in Wyoming and moved to New Mexico with his family.

EchoHawk launched his political career in Idaho, where he served as state attorney general.

His nomination now goes to the Senate for a confirmation vote.

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Nominee to lead BIA receives Senate committee's OK," which was published on 5/15/2009. So far, 4 comments have been made.