By David Sharp THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)- Maine lawmakers failed Thursday to override the governor’s veto of a bill that would have expanded the sovereignty of Native American tribes in the state by ensuring more federal laws apply to them. It’s a defeat for the tribes, which are bound by a land claims settlement that puts them on different footing than the nation’s other 570 federally recognized tribes. Both chambers had voted to enact the bill with big-enough majorities to override the veto, but some House members backtracked under pressure by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. She contends the bill was vague and would lead to lengthy and contentious litigation in coming years. The 84-57 House vote fell short of a two-thirds majority after tribal Rep. Aaron Dana, a

The post Tribal sovereignty bill falters as Maine lawmakers fail to override governor’s veto appeared first on The Turtle Island News.