Governor signs cigarette tax bill

[anyones neighbor]

Governor signs cigarette
tax bill
A way to bring in additional revenue


ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - New York Governor David Paterson has signed a bill to tax cigarettes sold by Native Americans.
The state is facing a major deficit. This is just one way to bring in additional revenue.

Smokers used to buying cartons of cigarettes at a low price on Indian Reservations can snuff out that idea. Gov. David Paterson signed a bill Monday morning, enforcing the collection of taxes on cigarettes sold at Indian-owned stores.

Vic Bunting from Erie, P.A. said, "I think they should just let them alone. What the hell. We pay enough taxes. And if we can save a few pennies on cigarettes it's helping them out. Let the Governor do what he's gotta do. Go tax somebody else."

Tom Piechnik from Lackawanna said, "They definitely shouldn't tax them, you know. It's a way to save money like I said you know."

When former Gov. George Pataki considered the idea in 1997, dozens of angry protestors caused a major uproar, burning tires and shuting down part of the NYS Thruway.

Indian tribes see the law as an attack on their sovereignty and financial well-being.

Meanwhile Paterson is preparing to unviel his 2009-2010 budget proposal Tuesday.
He plans to increase several taxes from gasoline to clothing.
He'll also propose reducing payements to hospitals and cutting state aid to public schools.

Orginally, supporters said this would bring in up to $400 million in revenue now they're saying $62 million.
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/The_Gov..._bill_20081215

[darlene]

I have a feeling there is gonna be some BIG trouble on and off the rez again, here we go again!!!

[dtwarren]

The reason we had the turmoil in 1997 was due to Governor Pataki's poor command leadership. First he did not even need to send Troopers to the reservation to interdict the untaxed cigarettes or address the violence, he could have gone directly to the wholesalers for the cigarettes. This way he would have gone higher up in the chain and utilized less resources. If any uprising occured on the reservations he could have picked up the phone and called the President of the United States and request that he handle the uprising or he would formally declare the Indian nations to be in actual hostility with a state of the union and request that the President exercise his authority under 25 USC 72 ( http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/25...2----000-.html )

Also times have changed and the type of uprising that ooccured then would not be looked upon in the same light today.

[PlayingKoi]

I'm not a smoker, but I do feel that this is an undue tax put on a specific group of people. It is, in my opinion, a form of discrimination.
Smokers are continually encouraged to quit. Once again raising the cost (this way by making sure you cannot skirt it) wil possibly encourage more people to quit. What will be taxed next to make up the loss? I hear that there is a tax in the works to be placed on regular soda due to the health risks of obesity!
I think that there is a possible way to have a compromise: tax all the commercial brands (both premium and generic), but leave the tax off of all Native American brands.

[Cgoodsp466]

DT Warren has to be doing back flips right now. Or else he is having a Cialis moment. I never in my life ever worried about the crap this clown does.

[Cgoodsp466]

The reason we had the turmoil in 1997 was due to Governor Pataki's poor command leadership. First he did not even need to send Troopers to the reservation to interdict the untaxed cigarettes or address the violence, he could have gone directly to the wholesalers for the cigarettes. This way he would have gone higher up in the chain and utilized less resources. If any uprising occured on the reservations he could have picked up the phone and called the President of the United States and request that he handle the uprising or he would formally declare the Indian nations to be in actual hostility with a state of the union and request that the President exercise his authority under 25 USC 72 ( http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/25...2----000-.html )

Also times have changed and the type of uprising that ooccured then would not be looked upon in the same light today.

I will look at these people as heros if the cuase the same kind of crap they did in 97. Not all of us are good little bundist like you and your crowd. Can we all say Ziek Heil.

[keyboard150]

I'm not a smoker, but I do feel that this is an undue tax put on a specific group of people. It is, in my opinion, a form of discrimination.
Smokers are continually encouraged to quit. Once again raising the cost (this way by making sure you cannot skirt it) wil possibly encourage more people to quit. What will be taxed next to make up the loss? I hear that there is a tax in the works to be placed on regular soda due to the health risks of obesity!
I think that there is a possible way to have a compromise: tax all the commercial brands (both premium and generic), but leave the tax off of all Native American brands.

Forcing the Native American's to collect ANY tax is wrong. Period. Taxing a certain group of people is WRONG. Period.
For a governor who is part of a minority, he sure does appreciate discriminating against people.

[WNYresident]

Forcing the Native American's to collect ANY tax is wrong. Period. Taxing a certain group of people is WRONG. Period.
For a governor who is part of a minority, he sure does appreciate discriminating against people.

Don't you think it's the other way around? You tax everyone or NO ONE.

It's like when you give a company a tax break while all the other companies don't get the tax break. That's why empire zones should be stopped. It's unethically unfair to the people who have to pay 100% property taxes and charge sales tax.

[BorderBob]

Can we all say Ziek Heil.

Um, I think it is Zieg Heil.

b.b.

[keyboard150]

Don't you think it's the other way around? You tax everyone or NO ONE.

It's like when you give a company a tax break while all the other companies don't get the tax break. That's why empire zones should be stopped. It's unethically unfair to the people who have to pay 100% property taxes and charge sales tax.

I agree. However, the Native Americans signed a treaty. We should honor it.

[dtwarren]

Forcing the Native American's to collect ANY tax is wrong. Period. Taxing a certain group of people is WRONG. Period.
For a governor who is part of a minority, he sure does appreciate discriminating against people.

This is not race based. If it was, then bestowing a benefit based on race is just as discriminatory.

[dtwarren]

I agree. However, the Native Americans signed a treaty. We should honor it.

There is simply no treaty that provides that provides a tax exemption to non-Indians who make purchases on Indian land.

[Cgoodsp466]

Um, I think it is Zieg Heil.

b.b.

Zieg Ziek Zeb Zoo its all relative = NAZI BASTARDS

[Cgoodsp466]

There is simply no treaty that provides that provides a tax exemption to non-Indians who make purchases on Indian land.

Spoken Like the True Commie Government lover you are. Whats your agenda Pal? Truth Justice and the american way. Oh the dry cleaner called your cape is done.

[keyboard150]

There is simply no treaty that provides that provides a tax exemption to non-Indians who make purchases on Indian land.

It is not the job of the Native Americans, which is the proper name by the way...to act as a tax collector for New York State. Nor is it their responsibility to bail out the state because the state doesn't know how to manage money properly.