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Quoted Text

CAPITOL
Senate passes Indian reservation cigarette tax
Property tax cap approved; fate in Assembly uncertain
The Associated Press

    New Yorkers won’t be able to avoid the highest cigarette taxes in the nation by shopping at Indian reservations if Gov. David Paterson signs a bill given final approval by the state Senate Friday.
    The measure requiring a cigarette tax on reservation sales had already passed the Assembly. A spokeswoman in the governor’s office said they haven’t reviewed the bill yet.
    The bill passed during a one-day special session of the Senate. The New York Department of Budget expects an additional $70 million in state revenue if the bill becomes law. Sen. Michael Nozzolio of Seneca Falls, who sponsored the legislation, estimated a $400 million spike in tax revenues.
    The American Cancer Society said the new tax could get about 100,000 people to quit smoking.
    The measure would require tobacco wholesalers to certify — under penalty of perjury — that they won’t supply cigarettes to retailers unless the packs have a legal New York state tax stamp. Wholesalers wouldn’t be able to buy from manufacturers unless they provide tax certification.
    American Cancer Society spokesman Peter Slocum urged Paterson to sign the bill and enforce it.
    The Seneca Indian nation has opposed the legislation, which nation president Maurice John Sr. said would “adversely impact the western New York economy by damaging a $200 million Seneca retailing sector, while violating treaties between the United States and the Nation, is certainly veto worthy.
    “The state Legislature should not try to help close its budget gap by denying the right of purchase to the Seneca Nation and its licensed retailers or by jeopardizing the jobs and livelihoods of more than 1,000 Seneca and non-Seneca families involved in our retail economy,” John said.
    The bill was passed the same day Republicans showed support for Paterson — a Democrat — by backing his proposal to cap local school and government property tax growth at 4 percent a year, unless voters overwhelmingly support more.
    “The residents of our state have made it clear they want relief from the crushing burden of local taxes,” Paterson said in a written statement. “We will continue to work closely with our partners in the Legislature to control rising property taxes through the passage of a sensible cap.”
    Despite passing the Senate with a 38-20 vote, the bill faces a long shot at becoming law because of resistance in the Democrat-led Assembly, which favors another approach.     

The Democrat led Assembly favors the votes from the teachers union not the will of the people.

the heading of this article is strange....it doesn't address the school tax issue.....remember their thought is that smokers are usually in the lower class and really dont pay attention to things like that and lack the will to organize and change things......there is an article somewhere in this forum that alluded to that theory....