NY governor candidates promise ongoing tobacco tax war – and more

[The Straight Story]

NY governor candidates promise ongoing tobacco tax war – and more
By Gale Courey Toensing


ALBANY, N.Y. – Both candidates for New York governor have already managed to offend two of the state’s most successful American Indian nations and, adding insult to injury, their messages emerged on Columbus Day.

Democrat Andrew Cuomo, the state’s attorney general, and Carl Paladino, a real estate developer who won the Republican nomination supported by the Tea Party, promise to continue the battle to snare a share of the Indian tobacco economy by collecting $4.35 per pack in taxes on cigarettes sold to non-Indians on reservations in an attempt to help staunch the state’s hemorrhaging finances, according to the Buffalo News.

Supporters of the state’s cigarette tax collecting schemes estimate the state could reap anywhere from $60 million to $200 million a year from the Indians’ businesses.

Cuomo has been involved in the state’s so far unsuccessful efforts to collect the taxes and told the Buffalo News he’ll continue that battle if elected.

“I believe we will ultimately be successful. I look forward to enforcing the law. I think it’s been a long time coming,” Cuomo said, calling the state’s failure to collect the taxes a “mockery” of government.

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/politics/NY-governor-candidates-promise-ongoing-tobacco-tax-war--and-more-105027079.html

[The Straight Story]

1. kick for the afternoon crowd (nt)