Arizona, New Mexico lawmakers team up to prevent sale of tribal items

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Cronkite News

Arizona, New Mexico lawmakers team up to prevent sale of tribal items

By Emily Zentner | Cronkite News | July 9, 2016 @ 2:30 pm

WASHINGTON – Arizona and New Mexico lawmakers teamed up this week to sponsor a bipartisan bill that would prevent the auction of sacred tribal items.

The Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act of 2016, sponsored by Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, would tighten penalties for people trying to export these items for sale online or in foreign auction houses.

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, announced Friday that he would sign on to the bill, joining Heinrich and Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, and Tom Udall, D-New Mexico.

“Many of the cultural artifacts that this bill would protect have a special, sacred connection to Native American people, as well as their history and heritage,” McCain said in a statement from his office.

Read more: http://ktar.com/story/1164447/arizona-new-mexico-lawmakers-team-up-to-prevent-sale-of-tribal-items/

[ArizonaLib]

1. Odd

The Senators from AZ named above were the same ones pushing legislation which would confiscate sacred land to sell to private mining operations. What exceptions were purposely left out of this new legislation so that they could continue business as usual? Are they waving a flag protecting artifacts in one hand while holding in the other hand 'contributions' from mining companies?

Maybe they are sincere - both AZ and NM have large amounts of rural voters on reservations in rural communities.

If you plan to vote in AZ, check your registration and don't forget your camping gear!