“I’m extremely gratified that the Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to hear our argument in this case of national importance,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri. “This is great news for the people of Rhode Island and an important step for every state facing similar issues. For too long, the legitimate concerns of states in the federal land-to-trust process have been ignored. It is simply not acceptable for any state to be stripped of its sovereignty over land within its borders by mid-level bureaucrats in Washington.”
“I appreciate the Supreme Court’s acknowledgement, by agreeing to review these issues, that this is a case of great national interest and significance. Sixteen states across the country, from Alaska to Florida, wouldn’t have joined our cause if it wasn’t just, and the reason is clear: With the stroke of a pen, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior can unilaterally strip a state of its sovereign jurisdiction by taking land into trust — even where there are currently no federally recognized Indian tribes. There is something fundamentally wrong with this principle. We look forward to representing Rhode Island’s interests to the very best of our abilities when the case is reviewed in the fall.”
One Comment
Thank you, those are my favorite two quotes of the entire year. Make that last year, too.
Post a Comment