and ability to vote in elections has been under dispute since the tribe (exclusive of the Freedmen) voted to tighten membership qualifications. Baker won the special election. Nearly 20,000 people voted in the special election in September, 5,000 more than had voted in the first one. Baker won by 1,534 votes with nearly 54 percent of the vote. By agreement between the federal government and the tribe in a negotiated decision, Cherokee Freedmen were allowed to vote in this election, although the question of their membership in the tribe is still unresolved. The Nation changed its membership rules to exclude all except those who are descended directly from Cherokee Indians listed on the Dawes Rolls, which excludes some Freedmen, even those of Cherokee descent, whose ancestors were listed on the Rolls only as Freedmen. Baker endorsed President Barack Obama for reelection in 2012, saying that Obama “is the best president for Indian country in the history of the United States.” Accomplishments After taking office, Baker quickly sold the Cherokee Nation’s private plane and invested the proceeds into contract health care for Cherokee citizens. During his first year in office, 750 new Cherokees were hired. Creating good jobs for Cherokee citizens is a high priority for Baker. The Cherokee Nation’s casino in Ramona, OK opened in 2012 and 100% of the employees were Cherokee citizens. In 2012, Baker revitalized the Cherokee Nation’s housing program and the Nation began building houses again for the first time in more than a decade. Cherokee citizens are now able to own their own home with this program. Baker promised more access to Cherokee homes. In March 2013, Baker announced $100 million from Cherokee Nation Businesses' profits would be invested into expanded health care for Cherokee citizens. New facilities and expanded services will reduce wait times and improve the quality of accessible health care for tribal citizens. The Cherokee Nation health care system is the largest tribally operated health system in the United States. In 2013, Baker announced the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB) had a record breaking year in profits and have a $1.3 Billion dollar economic impact in Oklahoma. A research study by an Oklahoma City University economist shows the tribe’s activities directly and indirectly support more than 14,000 jobs and provide more than $559 million in income payments. Under Baker, the Cherokee Nation increased funding to its college scholarships program. More