[JURIST] The US Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the US government was liable for agreements to cover contract costs for several Indian tribes despite arguments that Congress did not appropriate funds for the full amount. Under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [text], tribes may undertake and be reimbursed for programs that would otherwise be provided by the government. Read the Court's full opinion [text, PDF] in Cherokee Nation of Okla. v. Leavitt per Justice Breyer. Justice Scalia concurred [text, PDF] in the opinion, with the exception of a portion relying on legislative history.