Government shutdown's hit magnified for tribes
Source: Associated Press
Government shutdown's hit magnified for tribes
By MATTHEW BROWN, Associated Press | October 2, 2013 | Updated: October 2, 2013 7:30pm
CROW AGENCY, Mont. (AP) — American Indian tribes have more than access to national parks on the line with the government shutdown, as federal funding has been cut off for crucial services including foster care payments, nutrition programs and financial assistance for the needy.
For the 13,000 members of southeast Montana's Crow Tribe, the budget impasse had immediate and far-reaching effects: Tribal leaders furloughed more than 300 workers Wednesday, citing the shutdown and earlier federal budget cuts.
As a result, tribal programs including home health care for the elderly and disabled, bus service for rural areas, and a major irrigation project were suspended indefinitely.
"It's going to get hard," said Shar Simpson, who leads the Crow's home health care program. "We're already taking calls from people saying, 'Who's going to take care of my mom? Who's going to take care of my dad?'"
Read more: http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Government-shutdown-s-hit-magnified-for-tribes-4862453.php
