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more emphasis on patients and less on administrative oversight. The reforms undertaken by the government so far, he added, fall short.
• "I don't think the realization of these reforms is doing what we need to do, which is better health care on the ground," said Tester, whose committee has jurisdiction over federal-government dealings with 566 American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.
• Tuesday's hearing followed complaints from the Crow Tribe and others about poor and delayed health care on reservations.
• Tester and U.S. Sen. John Walsh earlier this month asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to examine problems at the agency's area office in Billings.
• Former Indian Affairs Chairman Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota conducted a similar investigation in 2010. Dorgan found that a "chronic state of crisis" plagued health care services for American Indians. Problems included a lack of providers, hospitals at risk of losing their accreditation, improperly licensed staff and missing or stolen narcotics.
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High court hears 2nd appeal in death sentence case
NORA HERTEL, Associated Press
• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- The lawyer for a man given a death sentence for killing a prison guard told the South Dakota Supreme Court on Tuesday that a lower court should have allowed evidence about his client's new relationship with his son before resentencing him.
• Attorney Jeff Larson said Rodney Berget did not previously have a relationship with his son because he thought the young man did not want to be part of his life. The son later reached out to his father's defense team, Larson said.
• He said the connection Berget has made with his son is a testament to Berget's character.
• Berget was sentenced to death for the 2011 killing of guard Ronald Johnson during a 2011 escape attempt. The state Supreme Court overturned Berget's initial death sentence because of an error by the judge in the case. The court ruled that a statement Berget made to a psychiatrist was improperly considered.
• But Berget was sentenced again to death last year.
• Assistant Attorney General Paul Swedlund argued that Berget could have established a relationship with his son sooner. He said Berget's attorney missed his opportunity to present additional evidence.
• "His family has no proper foundation to testify," Swedlund said. He added that testimony by family members could not counter the evidence against Berget in the (Continued on page 17)
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