Though he didn't mention such agreements during his campaign last fall, Gov. Eliot Spitzer is now saying he wants to negotiate with Indian tribes on matters related to land claims and sovereignty.

More specifically, his office this week said he desires a deal in which the state would collect taxes on cigarettes sold by Indian-owned businesses, but then share some of the money with the tribes.

Spitzer views such an arrangement as a solution that would work for the two key opposing sides of this issue - the tribes who insist they should not be forced to be agents of the state and the non-Indian retail competitors who have a built-in price disadvantage under the system as it now works.

Details of Spitzer's proposal have not been released, or would need to be worked out with the tribes.

It sure sounds like the same type of spin that came from former Gov. George Pataki on this issue.

It also sounds a lot like a campaign promise broken.

Most importantly, it's a proposal that is bad for New Yorkers.

The idea that enforcing a law on the books should be subject to negotiation is extremely troubling.

We sure hope veiled threats of violent protests like ones that took place in the 1990s are not moving the governor in this direction.

The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that the state can collect these taxes, and it should.

Spitzer's revenue sharing plan still creates disadvantages for non-Indian competitors.

Perhaps the price of cigarettes will now be equal, but what will stop Indian-owned business from using the revenue the state returns to lower prices on other items they sell?

The bottom line is this: under Spitzer's proposal, the state still gives up valuable revenue that ultimately belongs to the taxpayers and the competitive landscape for cigarette retailers remains unfair.