Paterson signs tax bill

UTICA - A bill intended to enforce collection of excise taxes on cigarettes sold at Indian-owned stores was signed into law Monday by Gov. David Paterson.

The new law will prohibit 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 by New York tribes, a practice that has caused conflict between Indians and the state for years.

“This is a new approach, and we hope it will be the effective approach in terms of fighting this problem,” Paterson said before signing the bill during a stop in Utica.