New York to Tax Tobacco Sold on Indian Reservations

On March 1 New York State is scheduled to start taxing tobacco sold to non-Indians on Indian reservations.

[Dick]

Good

[Anthony Ernst]

New York State Tax on Reservation Sales is Unjust, Unnecessary, Unconstitutional

The amended New York tax law (Park K of Chapter 61 and Chapter 63 of 2005 laws ) scheduled to be enforced starting March 1 would impose the state cigarette tax of $1.50 per pack on cigarettes as well as taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel sold to non-natives on Indian Reservations recognized by the state.

This law is unjust, unnecessary and unconstitutional.

It is unjust because it would eliminate the income of many families of Long Island's two state-recognized Native American tribes. These workers have few alternatives in a low wage economy.

The tax law change would increase the profits of already thriving convenience store businesses while eliminating native-owned businesses.

Efforts to expand the economy on the Shinnecock Reservation have been frustrated by those lobbying to prevent Federal recognition and the benefits from Federal programs which would ensue.

Imposition of the tax is unnecessary because the savings to New York State, estimated at $40 million by the State Department of Taxation would be offset by the increased cost of welfare. In fact there may be a net cost to the state's taxpayers.

It is unconstitutional because it violates the principle of sovereignty of Native tribes guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and by New York State recognition.

[a smoker]

it's the patriot act, patriot act2, taxing soverign indian nations, more property tax, more school tax, yaddy yaddy yaddy..........Isn't it time for the Boston Tea Party Part 2??????????

[A Taxpayer]

a smoker wrote:

it's the patriot act, patriot act2, taxing soverign indian nations, more property tax, more school tax, yaddy yaddy yaddy..........Isn't it time for the Boston Tea Party Part 2??????????

The biggest farce is that cigarette money benefits the tribes. The cigarette money only benefits the smoke shop owners and operators. The Tribes see a very small fraction, if any money. The shop owners,( approx 10 ) are multi millionaires while the real indians live in ghetto like conditions. Ask the chiefs how much money they profit each year, and how much money the Pouspatucks or Shinecocks actually get form cigarette sales. If the profits from these sales actually went to the members of the tribes, they would all be living like kings. They talk about how NYS is trying to deprive the tribes when they really are only looking out for their own personal interests!

If you don't believe it just ask the Chiefs

JUST ASK TO SEE THE BOOKS!!!!!!

[Kmo]

Dick wrote:

Good

No wondering how you got your name - Dick!

[Rich Amarillo Texas]

A Taxpayer wrote:

<quoted text>

The biggest farce is that cigarette money benefits the tribes. The cigarette money only benefits the smoke shop owners and operators.

Irrelevant!!! You make a treaty...you honor it. You give your word, you honor it. That's the problem with the world today. New York state has no jurisdiction there, it's sovereign land.....no different than a US embassy in another country.

[Sharkey]

It just shows how communist NYS government is,a feinding crackhoar that roams the street,what do they need that tax for ?an oversized innefficient police state government

[Josh]

I pay for their goddam welfare, their diabetes supplies and heartmedication they "need" because all they can do is sit at home and blow their welfare check on booze and their precious tobacco! Who'll pay for the cancer treatment? The taxpayers of NY! They live in NY, they can damn well pay taxes like the rest of us. Im sick of carrying their sorry asses through life. The American Indian isn't special anymore. Their culture no longer exists. They've become a burden to NYS. Don't Indians believe in sharing the earth? As for the tire burning, that was an act of terrorism and should've been dealt with accordingly. Indians should count their blessings im not governor, or i would've given them a real "sovereign" nation- some deserted island out in the middle of the south pacific!
If they don't want to pay taxes, they can forfeit their right to vote, take care of their own lands and people, and conduct their business to themselves. If the indian gets a 1200 dollar check in the mail every month from their casino, they dont need any welfare. they can get off their fat red asses and get jobs like any other NYS resident.

[Bill E]

It's just greed driving this. Now it's tobacco, tomorrow it's Big Macs.

[Josh]

ASo american indians are better than you?

[Josh]

And Big Macs are a horrible analogy, it makes no sense.

[Josh]

Does this mean i win?

[bmg]

Shipping out of state is in violation of law and the owners of these shops should prove there "indian" heritage.

[TODD]

next the state will be taxing the churches there like roaches the get into every damn thing they can the only ones getting rich are those damn law makers up there in albany

[Josh]

What indian heritage? They're a broken culture.

[Howard-Riverhead]

In my estimation more than 90% of so called Native American Tribes here on Long Island are nothing more than Afro-Americans sitting on their asses living off the fat of the people. True Native-Americans can easily be identified by simple dental examinations. True Native-Americans have a gene that produces what anthropologists call 'Shovel Incisors'. No other race with the exception of Siberian natives have this trait. Really want to call FOUL...Suffolk Counties 'cap' on gasoline at $2 per gallon! The lying whorebags are driving its own taxpayers into poverty so our elected politicians can 'investigate' the situation...In Hawaii, Aruba and anyplace TAXPACS are willing to send them.

[Dave]

Anyone know of a place or Indian Reservation out in Long Island for good pricing on Nat Sherman MCD cigarettes? Would appreciate any info. Thanks!

[joe vocht]

Taxpayer. you obviously don't know that billions of dollars are owed to Indians, but the books of the BIA are all screwed up (on purpose) and they have not been payed for the last 10 years! How dare you want to see the Indian's books when the 'white folks' in Washington can't keep theirs...think about it!!

[F_T_P]

Why do the "Indians" deserve anything given to them? Because we took their land? I wonder if Hitler would have given the Jews a few dozen fixed slot machines to run in Berlin? Or if we should just let the Mexicans run the border illegally, hey, we did take Texas.

[Confused Indian]

Does that mean the white man gave me my smoke shop? Yeah you did take our land. Now you want my rights!?(again) Why don't you go after Canada, New York didn't collect state taxes on them yet!