Senecas Oppose Cigarette Tax Collection At State Hearing
Jump to full article: Jamestown (NY) Post-Journal, 2009-10-28
Author: Sharon Turano
Intro: While the New York State Police are worried about a confrontation if the state tries to block the sale of tax-free cigarettes on New York's Indian reservations, local Seneca Nation of Indian officials say the ongoing discussion could be an opening to establish a lasting peace.
The state held a hearing Tuesday called by state Sen. Craig Johnson, D-Nassau, to discuss tax collections on sales made to non-Indians on reservations and why they have not been collected, and busloads of Seneca Nation residents attended to discuss why they oppose such collections.
Previous attempts to collect state taxes on reservation commerce drew protests from Senecas, who said further attempts will lead to them defending treaties the nation has made with the federal government.
"We will never allow the state to tax our commerce," said Tribal Councilor J.C. Seneca during the hearings. "No other government has the right to interfere. We will fight to uphold these rights now and forever.''
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