Jump to full article: Convenience Store News, 2009-11-17
Intro: State Senator Carl Kruger is working to close the state's deficit as Senate Finance Committee chairman, and recently held a press conference urging Gov. David Paterson to collect taxes on cigarettes sold on Native American reservations to non-Native Americans.
"We have to ask everybody to share both the benefits and the burdens of being a New Yorker," Kruger was quoted saying at a press conference, by the New York Daily News. "Part of being a New Yorker is paying taxes that are assessed upon you."
He added: "Today is the day that we draw the line in the sand, and I say that we should collect before we cut. We should collect the taxes due before we cut the services. While we negotiate we should be collecting. Anything short of that is denying the rule of law."
Kruger was joined Democratic Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., according to the report. By collecting the cigarette taxes, the state's general fund could see a "cash infusion" of $135 million in December and $1.6 billion a year, according to Kruger.
Following the press conference, the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) President James Calvin voiced his support of Kruger's efforts.
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