Store owners want Native smokes taxed

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - Convenience store operators are demanding New York State collect taxes on cigarette sold by Native Reservations.

An association of convenience stores says New York forfeits about $1 billion a year in uncollected taxes on tobacco, money that could close the budget gap and potentially save jobs. It also puts non-Native stores at a competitive disadvantage.

Mike Newman, Chairman of the State Association of Convenience Stores, said, "These are legitimate collections, taxes that need to be collected. This is something that has gone before the Supreme Court, it's available funds for the state, the state has already voted on having them collect it. Now it's time the state steps up and does their job."

Newman says the current situation also encourages "bootlegging" and other illegal tobacco sales.