The Indians in NY will riot

Yankee23 · #1 12-15-2008, 06:01 PM

ALBANY -- Gov. David Paterson today directed the state to begin collecting taxes on cigarettes sold at Indian-owned stores, likely setting up a major protest from Indian reservations in New York.

Governors in New York have long sought to collect taxes on the sale of cigarettes on Indian reservations, as called for in state law, but they have backed off because of threats from tribes.

Yet with the state facing a $12.5 billion budget gap in the 2009-10 budget year, the taxes on Indian reservations could bring in an estimated $400 million over the next several years for the state’s coffers.

The American Cancer Society hailed Paterson’s decision. He signed the bill in Utica this morning, his office said. There was no immediate comment from the state’s tribes.

“Because higher cigarette prices discourage smoking, collection of this tax will prompt 150,000 smokers to quit, save the state future smoking-related healthcare costs and provide revenue to sustain vital health programs in a difficult economy.” said Donald Distasio, CEO of the American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey.

The proposal is among billions in new taxes and fees that Paterson will propose Tuesday to close next year’s unprecedented budget gap, which will total about $15 billion when combined with the deficit in the current fiscal year, which runs until March 31.

revnecro1273 · #2 12-15-2008, 06:04 PM

that is legal? i thought, even though they are located in a given state, that tribal reservations were under federal law and protection..it is like coming from another country back into your own country andyou bought duty free items..they were purchased elsewhere and if they were within the limit are not subject to any sort of tax..so coming back from an indian reservation couldn't be seen as coming from another jurisdiction?

Yankee23 · #3 12-15-2008, 06:07 PM

It is legal to sell to other Native Americans only

They have taken it to a whole new level selling online as well

It's gonna get real, real ugly

Hoosiercatdaddy · #4 12-15-2008, 11:45 PM

Does this go for Peace Pipes too?

TMarra6 · #5 12-16-2008, 02:49 PM

Great.....it will be like back in 1997 when these idiots burned piles of tires in the middle of Interstate-86 in the Southern Tier!! This also led to a bad wreck which someone was killed!!
Before I moved, part of my territory consisted of 2 Seneca reservations and these people have the biggest chip on their shoulder and are the biggest a-holes to deal with.

They have the casino in Salamanca, so they will only hurt themselves with any rioting!! NYS and the Senecas have battled for years and NOTHING EVER good comes from this crap. I agree--this WILL get ugly. I will get to see for myself next week, as my mom lives 45 min. from my hometown--right past the Indian reservation. Looks like I will go to Canada and gamble!!