UTICA -- Gov. David Paterson has signed a bill to enforce collection of excise taxes on cigarettes sold at Indian-owned stores.
Paterson traveled to Utica to sign the measure Monday.
Supporters believe collecting the tax would bring the state more than $62 million a year at a time Paterson is projecting budget deficits of tens of billions of dollars over the next few years.
Indian tribes view the law as an attack on their sovereignty and financial well-being.
The law prohibits manufacturers from selling tobacco products without a state tax stamp to any wholesaler that doesn't certify the cigarettes won't be resold tax-free. The state excise tax is $2.75 per pack.
Supporters believe collecting the tax would bring the state more than $62 million a year at a time Paterson is projecting budget deficits of tens of billions of dollars over the next few years.
Indian tribes view the law as an attack on their sovereignty and financial well-being.
The law prohibits manufacturers from selling tobacco products without a state tax stamp to any wholesaler that doesn't certify the cigarettes won't be resold tax-free. The state excise tax is $2.75 per pack.
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dan w wrote on Dec 16, 2008 12:48 AM:
Yes they do pay property taxes and sales tax. Then they support their own schools. The chuches probley are exempt as all church property falls under tax exemptions.
For smokers that now have to pay the 2.75 tax on a pack of smokes http://www.nysmokefree.com/ I quit 6 yrs ago when the first tax increase was put on cigarettes. If you can't afford them quit. Why burn up "food" money? "
nature lover wrote on Dec 15, 2008 8:00 PM:
Voice of Auburnians wrote on Dec 15, 2008 5:42 PM:
omg have they lost there minds or have nothing else better to do. Might as well move to communist china because amerikkka isnt a free country anymore our tax dollars at work to pay for who knows what hookers maybe? "
localman wrote on Dec 15, 2008 4:49 PM:
trooper2b wrote on Dec 15, 2008 3:44 PM: