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• State tries again to snuff out tax-free cigs 

After years in which the state and Native American tribes clashed, New York is taking a new approach to snuff out the sale of cigarettes without sales tax.

Gov. David Paterson signed legislation making it illegal for wholesalers to sell cigarettes without a sales tax stamp to tribes and on reservations as of Sept. 1.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance indicated as of that date all packs of cigarettes sold by wholesalers to Indian nations, tribes and reservation cigarette sellers must have state cigarette tax stamps.

"Wholesalers in the state of New York were providing the unstamped cigarettes to Native Americans," said New York State Senator Jeffrey Klein, D-Bronx, a supporter of the measure.

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