We see it a lot in politics – one side or the other attaches an important piece of legislation to a larger bill, sometimes loaded down with pork, and tries to get it passed. Then if someone votes against the larger more expensive bill, those votes are used in campaign commercials against them come election time.

It’s typical campaigning and it harms those who need the help the most.

The latest example of this type of politics is the Cobell v. Salazar class action lawsuit that dealt with the Federal Government’s mismanagement of the individual Indian trust. Basically, the Feds mismanaged billions of dollars that was generated from mineral excavation, timber harvest, and grazing on tribal lands the government holds in trust.

A $3.4 billion agreement was reached in December 2009. The lawsuit started way back in 1996. Continue reading →