dtwarren
February 13th, 2004, 11:59 PM
Recently Governor Pataki and Tax Commissioner Eristoff have announced their intention not to enforce New York's lawful and valid Tax Laws on non-member transactions on Indian land. The New York Legislature, the lawmaking body of our state government, directed that this be done. Our Governor and Tax Commissioner, members of the executive or enforcement branch of our state government, refuse to enforce all laws of this state in violation of their oaths of office and constitutional duties. This conduct by our Governor and Tax Commissioner should not be tolerated regardless of your position on whether this should, or should not, be the law of this state. This issue has now evolved from a policy difference between reasonable people to a threat that stands to endanger our very form of government. By allowing this to continue we will set a dangerous precedent whereby the balance of power between our three co-equal branches of government will be severely and irreparably damaged and start us on a path towards a government of men and not of laws together with its resultant authoritarian possibilities. It is for the above reason and with a heavy heart that Upstate Citizens for Equality is circulating a petition calling for the State Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings and to remove George E. Pataki from the office of Governor of the State of New York. This petition is available on our website http://www.upstate-citizens.org