A line in the Republican Alternative Budget is drawing ire not for its fiscal plans, but for what some are calling an offensive phrase used by the GOP in the budget explanation.
Republican legislative leaders released a plan on Tuesday to eliminate 1,380 managerial positions in state government to save $250 million over the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years.
"(O)rganizations that are 'top heavy' or have 'too many chiefs and not enough Indians' are rarely successful and almost never efficient" GOP legislators wrote in the summary.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe took exception to what it calls the "insensitive remarks" in the Republican Budget.
"The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council was dismayed to learn that the Republican's proposed budget was published without any regard for the inappropriate reference contained therein," the Council said in a statement Tuesday. "Though perhaps an oversight, the Council sincerely hopes that this matter will be swiftly eradicated, accompanied by appropriate amends to all those who may have been equally affronted."
GOP leaders later apologized.
"It was brought to our attention that a phrase included in the budget materials we presented today were offensive to Native Americans and should not have been used,” GOP lawmakers later said in a statement. “In describing the need for rebuilding the number of managers in the system ‘too many chiefs and not enough Indians,’ should not have been used. It was an unintentional mistake but insensitive none-the-less and will not be repeated. We apologize to Native Americans and anyone else who lightly takes offense."
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The Mashantucket Pequots have maintained the same reservation in Southeastern Connecticut since 1666. They operate Foxwoods Casino, and MGM Grand at Foxwoods, the largest resort casino in North America.
