Philip Morris is supporting a tobacco tax bill that the Seneca Nation of New York is trying to kill.

Philip Morris says the bill won't affect the average non-Indian consumer because the tax is imposed at the wholesale level. The company says it would be up to tribal retailers to seek refunds on cigarettes sold to Indian consumers.

Seneca leaders don't see it that way. They say the bill violates their treaty rights and will hurt economies that benefit from the sale of tobacco.

The tribe lobbied Gov. David Paterson (D) yesterday to veto the bill but nothing was resolved, the Associated Press reported.

Get the Story:
Seneca officials take their cigarette tax case to Albany (The Buffalo News 8/15)
Senecas Lobby Against Proposed Cigarette Tax (AP 8/15)
Marlboro-maker backs NY bid to tax Indian sales (Reuters 8/14)

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Seneca Nation lobbies governor on tobacco tax bill (8/14)
Seneca Nation opposes tobacco tax bill (8/12)