September is going to be a mess. Congress must sort out some really complicated financial issues.

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September Mess Trahant Reports from Mark Trahant on Vimeo.

There is the budget, plus an increase in the debt limit, how much money to actually spend on federal programs and services, and, if there’s time, tax reform.

This should be easy in a one-party government. The House acts, then the Senate does its thing, and President Donald J. Trump signs the idea into law. Easy. Except there is not a real Republican majority in Congress. The House is made up of at least three factions, or parties, Republicans, Democrats, and the more conservative House Freedom Caucus. So in order to gather enough votes to pass a spending bill, or any other of the financial challenges, at least two of the three factions have to agree.

The Senate has its own divisions within the Republican Party. (The very reason why the Republican replacement for the Affordable Care Act has not yet become law.)

And to make it even more complicated, the White House is not on the same page either. The president proposed a stingy budget that’s been pretty much rejected by members of the House and the Senate.

For example the Trump proposed budget calls for $4.7 billion for the Indian Health Service, a cut of some $300 million or 6 percent of the agency’s budget. But the House spending plan that is now being considered calls for an increase of $97 million over last year’s levels. Indeed, the Appropriations Committee that funds IHS and the Bureau of Indian Affairs plans to spend a total of $4.3 billion more than the president requested on programs under its jurisdiction.

The Senate will come up with its own spending plan. Then, in theory, the two houses will resolve their differences and agree on how much the federal government should spend over the next year (and the president can go along or veto the legislation and start all over).

But that’s not how Congress is actually legislating these days. More often Congress is unable to agree and instead passes a temporary spending plan based on last year’s budget or a Continuing Resolution. That’s an easier sell to members because it represents a last minute, throw up your hands, and do something, approach.

And the budget is only one fiscal crisis facing Congress next month. The same divisions play out on other complex financial issues, such as raising the debt limit, the amount of money the country borrows to pay its bills, or a new budget plan that Congress will have to follow for the next few years.

So yes, September is going to be a mess. And after the budget, spending bills, and debt limit fight is complete, there’s still tax reform on the agenda. Another mess. I am Mark Trahant.

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Debra Haaland has filed paperwork to run for Congress from New Mexico as a Democrat. She is a member of the Laguna Pueblo and, if elected, would be the first Native American woman ever elected to Congress. (Campaign photo via Twitter)

Congress is supposed to represent the people. All the people. Yet in the entire history of this country there has never been a Native American woman in either the House or the Senate.

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Debra Haaland is campaigning to be the first. She’s running for Congress from New Mexico. So, yes, if elected, she would be the first Native American woman to ever serve in that body. What makes this news especially cool: This is a winnable seat.

Haaland is a member of Laguna Pueblo.

She has been working as the New Mexico Democratic Party chair for the past two years. Haaland has also been a candidate for lieutenant governor and has chaired the Laguna Development Corporation.

Her Twitter profile says: “A proud UNM Lobo mom; Pueblo woman; Marathon runner; Gourmet cook.” She also tweeted: “Thank you for the outpouring of support! Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.” She uses the hashtag, #Deb4Congress and her web site is found at debforcongress.com

Haaland said in a statement: “I’ve spent my life advocating for the underrepresented, advancing progressive values, and working tirelessly to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot. I want to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.”

New Mexico’s First Congressional District includes Albuquerque and the north-central portion of the state. It’s currently represented by Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, who won with 65 percent of the vote, and is now a candidate for governor. The seat is rated “solid” or “safe” for the Democrats.
Since this will be an “open” seat there will be a lot of competition. So the test for Haaland will be a primary election in June of next year.

That means she will need early campaign money. Rep. Grisham raised $1.8 million for her re-election in 2016, however, the last time a Republican held this seat, former Rep. Heather Wilson, raised and spent nearly $5 million.

As a former party chair, Haaland should be well-suited to take on the fundraising challenges. She has basically been raising money — albeit for others — for the past two years. She was the first Native American woman to serve as a state party chair. Money is a tough challenge, but in the last election cycle, another Native American woman, Denise Juneau in Montana, raised $2.7 million in her unsuccessful bid.

Some history: I looked up the numbers and since 1789 there have been nearly 10,300 people elected to Congress. There have been a handful of Native American men, but never a woman. By my count, at least eight Native American women have formally made a bid for Congress. None successfully.
Perhaps, now, the time is right for a Congress that really is a People’s House.

I am Mark Trahant.

The House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act by four votes last week. The legislation now moves to the United States Senate for consideration. This bill would dramatically reshape the healthcare system, including Indian health.

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House Republicans propose doing three things: Cutting taxes (significantly); spending less on Medicaid; and reducing the federal role so that states can experiment more with health care programs.

As I have reported before: The most important idea for Indian Country is that the legislation would end Medicaid as we know it. Medicaid insures more than half of all children in the Indian Health system and it accounts for 13 percent of the Indian Health Service budget.

At least four Republican Senators say Medicaid is a critical safety net that ought to be preserved. A bloc of four senators has the power to say “no” to any legislation. This is the Medicaid Protection Bloc and they will have a say in rewriting the bill.

And no matter what comes out of the Senate (unless it’s the House bill exactly) the House will have to vote again.

Indian Country should be included in this debate. And we’re not. Our right to health care is simple, it’s based on treaties, history, and thus a pre-payment for whatever insurance mechanism the country comes up with. The Affordable Care Act at least opened an avenue to fully fund the Indian Health system, something that’s never been accomplished before.

So this is also the ideal moment for Indian Country to have more of a say.

Rep. Tom Cole, a Republican in leadership, and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, told National Public Radio: “This thing is going to go to the United States Senate. It’s going to change, in my view … Then we have to have a Congress — a conference to work out the differences. If we can do that, then it has to still pass the House and the Senate again before it ever gets to the president.”

Cole is often a champion for Indian health programs, especially when it comes to the budget. He’s usually the only Native American at the table when budgets are written.

Cole has also been against Medicaid Expansion, saying his state, Oklahoma, did not go that route. But this House measure is not just about Medicaid Expansion; it’s a radical restructuring of Medicaid designed to cap costs. Even in Oklahoma Medicaid serves more than 800,000 people. And, remember that Medicaid is 13 percent of the IHS budget, more than $800 million now and growing.

Plus this is the best kind of money because it stays at local clinics and hospitals.

This is what Tom Cole and Republicans in the House voted to take away from Indian Country. And you can be sure: This is what will be on the ballot next year.

I am Mark Trahant.