Feds slap beneficiaries in face

Cobell balks at feds' offerCobell said that while she should be happy that the government put a proposal on the table, it "is so absurd it cannot really be called a settlement offer."

Cobell said $7 billion is insufficient to settle the Cobell case alone, especially since the money would be paid out over 10 years without interest. But the government wants to use the money to "buy much, much more" than settling her suit, she said.

She especially objected to eliminating future government liability.

"This is in no uncertain terms a license to steal," she said.