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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 1999)
Smoke Signals The political eyes and eaisdf the Tribe Justin Martin, the Tribe's Intergovernmental Affairs lobbyist, has been on the scene at the state Capitol for two years looking, listening and educating the powers that be By Oscar Johnson For Justin Martin, the Tribe's In tergovernmental Affairs lobbyist, work never seems to end. Weekday mornings he is in his Sa lem office answering e-mail and re turning calls to Congressional staff and the Tribe's lobbyist in Washing ton, DC. After a whirlwind of local calls to state capitol contacts and fel low lobbyists, he skims an inch-thick daily report on newly proposed state laws. Then Martin hits the halls of Oregon's Capitol Building to check his lobbyist's box for messages, grab another daily report and "get the buzz" on upcoming bills that might affect the Tribe. With a long swift stride he weaves through a maze of corridors; up and down elevators and stairs; and in and out the office areas of state senators and district representatives. He knows everyone by name and uses a hearty deter mined handshake as he networks with those in the know. On other days he might be repre senting the Tribe at an evening or weekend political event; talking to a church group about tribal gaming or helping Council testify before Sen ate Committees in Salem or in Wash ington, D.C. Martin is the first to admit; "this is not your normal 8 to 5 job," but he does not seem to mind: "I enjoy this job because it's chal lenging," says Martin. "I believe you can make a difference and I have a personal stake in it as a tribal mem ber I'm out their trying to protect the Tribe." Martin has been lobbying for the Tribe for two years and this is his third legislative session. He began working as an intern legislative assistant for Rep. Terry Thompson (D-Newport) after earn ing his degree in public policy and administration at Western Oregon University in 1995. Two years later he joined the Tribe's legislative team of Dave Barrows & Associates where he says he began learning the ropes. Now he is the state's first full-time tribal lobbyist and other tribes are starting to follow suit. Six of Oregon's federally recog nized tribes now have lobbyist or in tergovernmental affairs staff. A year ago Grand Ronde was the only one, Martin says. "Before gaming, I don't think there were many (legislative) issues effect ing us," says Martin, noting that last year the State Legislature saw 39 proposed laws that would have hurt tribal gaming. But now he says there are at least three good reasons that make tribal lobbyists essential. "The Tribe's identity has been stepped up due to gaming not just us but tribes in general; Clinton's executrvtrTTrder mi government' ttr "fa I III vl im!VA- H 2 j oAJ I fir 1 M Wfkt II u . III. :h-1 J V -' ' 5 " " 1 i f " Clockwise from left: Legislative Assistant to Sen. Gordon Smith, Martin Doren, is briefed on tribal concerns by state lobbyist Justin Martin, Council members Leon Tom, Ed Pearsall and Kathryn Harrison (accompa nied by her grandson, Darian Russell) and Washington-based lobbyist Mark Phillips. The delegation visited Congressional offices on Capitol Hill last month. government relations and then came Governor Kitzhaber's government to government execu tive order." - Martin says the orders requiring federal and state agencies to work more closely with their tribal counterparts "leads to an increased flow of information and relations. This leads to other issues like (tribal) - " taxation, land into trust and sover eign immunity. "The third element that justified the need was term limits for elected offi cials. You have to educate folks about Indian issues they just don't know about them," he says noting that al most a third of this year's House of Representatives are newcomers. "Our No. 1 priority is to educate elected officials on Indian issues." One example Martin offers is a recent attempt by the previous State Legislative Committee to pass a law banning state lottery video ma chines, "saying it wouldn't affect Indian tribes." But Martin says they were wrong. Since he knew that tribal sover eign immunity does not apply to gaming 'criminally prohibited' by state law, the Grand Ronde lobbyist helped rally the forces. He says with the help of allies such as Sen. Kate Brown (D-Portland), they managed to freeze the bill. "It's a good thing we were in the building," Martin says. "If those video lottery terminals go we'd loose I believe, about 80 percent of our casino revenue." OurNo. 1 priority is to educate elected officials on Indian issues." Justin Martin protect itself. Tribal, or any politically savvy group's, contributions to political campaigns is something their lobby ist rarely like to discuss. Martin is no exception. "I will say that other organizations pay upwards of 8 to 10 times more than we do," he said. As for those who wish to take up a moral issue with a political system that tribes did not create, Martin has a simple response. "We're participating in a govern ment the way other groups do," he says matter-of-factly. He adds that everyone from media groups to state transportation departments do the same. "We are essentially protect ing our interests." When he is not keeping tabs on the state legislature or lobbying for tribal interest, Martin is working with Tribal Council. As administrator of the Tribe's Leg islative Committee, he organizes the agenda for the group's bimonthly meetings in Grand Ronde. At each meeting he gives a recap of bills that could hurt the Tribe if passed into law. He is also on the Tribe's Political Martin s job is not the only essen- Steering Committee which analyzes m-investmenr trre-tribe makes to1 p mendations to Council. "We keep Council in formed about what's go ing on in the political world," Martin says. "And I find out what Council wants me to keep an eye on." Part of being the po litical eyes and ears of Council means that at least five times a year Martin finds himself fol lowing a hectic three to four-day schedule in Washington, D.C. He collaborates with other tribal lobbyists on national issues affecting the Tribe at National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) meetings. Once a year he assists Council Chairwoman, Kathryn Harrison, in testifying on behalf of tribal program needs at annual Senate Appropria tions Committee hearings. He also always takes time out to apply his intergovernmental skills to ensure that Oregon senators and representatives consider Grand Ronde when casting their vote in Congress. "It's good to go talk to people when you don't need something," Martin says. "So that when something does come up they'll call you or when you come next time they'll know you." This strategy is important because people often wait until the last minute and want to take Capitol Hill by storm after an emergency arises. Whether he is in Washington or Salem, Martin is always on guard because, more sooner than later, an emergency will arise. 5 "You never know what's going to come up," Jh,jp says'Ypu could spend !olitieal4ssus-and-mk8 recom foui-day&'fignting an'issuei" .
