NY cigarettes to be highest in nation

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - State lawmakers are once again poring over the governor's latest emergency plan aimed at averting a government shutdown. One of the smoldering issues is a proposed cigarette tax, which would become the highest in the nation.

If you light up in New York State, you will be paying the biggest chunk of taxes per pack of cigarettes in the nation. The tax per pack will be raised from $2.75 to $4.35 cents.

The tax on cigars pipe and chewing tobacco and other tobacco products will jump from 46 percent of the wholesale price to 75 percent, raising a projected total of $440 million this year.

Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer said, "We're collecting too much money from people. We need to spend less money. So whether it's a cigarette tax or a tax on any other thing, we're taxing people out of existence."

Cigarettes sold by Seneca Indians to non-Indians will also be taxed. A certain percentage of cigarettes provided by wholesalers will be stamped or taxed. The non-stamped cigarettes will be sold by Indians to Indians without taxes.

Sen. George Maziarz said, "It's poor public policy. It is going to cause violence. There's no question there's going to be a violent reaction on the part of the Native Americans."

The Senecas won't say what tactics they will use this time around. They hope to use the courts and diplomacy first. But compromise doesn't seem likely on this issue.

J.C. Seneca said, "Make no doubt that the Seneca Nation will stand and fight and defend its people's sovereignty."

NYS Budget Division Spokesman Erik Kriss said, "We certainly hope it doesn't come to violence, and we don't think it should, but we are preparing to move forward with this tax collection."

The tobacco tax package passed. All Republicans voted against it. The budget extender was also passed late Monday afternoon.

You can watch the NYS Legislature debate live streaming here.