Republican lawmaker wants to put tobacco tax on Idaho tribes

Thursday, February 24, 2011  

Idaho House Speaker Lawerence Denney (R) introduced a bill that would force tribes to collect the state's tobacco tax.

Denney doesn't want customers to go to reservations just to find cheaper cigarettes. His bill raises the state's tax to $1.25 per pack and requires tribes to pay the same on tobacco sold to non-Indians.

“It’s sending us the wrong message, by dropping a bill without consulting us,” Chief Allan, the chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, told The Spokesman Review. “We seem to be taking a step backward again.”

The Idaho Council on Indian Affairs voted to ask the House Revenue and Taxation Committee to put a hold on the bill to give time to consult tribes.

Get the Story:
Tax proposal on cigarettes from reservations surprise to tribes (The Spokesman Review 2/24)
Indian Affairs Council urges tax committee to proceed slowly on cigarette tax measure (The Idaho Reporter 2/23)
Council on Indian Affairs calls for slowdown on reservation cig tax bill (The Spokesman Review 2/23)

Idaho Republicans targeting tribes with tobacco taxation bill (2/22)