By Eileen Buckley
Albany, NY – The leader of the Seneca Nation of Indians took the tribes anti-tax campaign message to the state Capitol Friday.
Seneca President Rickey Armstrong didn't meet with lawmakers. Instead, he says he was there to "promote" the Seneca's ad campaign against a new state sales tax. The state plans to begin collecting taxes on items sold by Native Americans to non-Indians by December 1st.
Armstrong says it's unconstitutional and would also violate the nation's sovereignty. Last Friday, while in Buffalo, Governor Pataki said he must enforce the law. But Armstrong says he believes there is always a chance it could be halted.
"Yeah, I think there is always a chance. He has related to us that he is committed to resolving this issue peaceably," Armstrong said. "So I take him at his word."
Pataki vetoed the tax collections, but the Legislature overrode his actions. Armstrong says he hopes to hear from Pataki by the end of this week.
The Seneca Nation leader says so far they have received "favorable reaction" from the Western New York community for their anti-tax message. "We have received a lot of phone calls and letters of support," Armstrong said. "Our previous poll found that 68-percent are in favor of the Seneca Nation of Indians position."
Armstrong says the tax collections will hurt Indian-owned businesses and the tribe's economy. The law would tax wholesalers prior to the sale to reservation owned businesses. It also calls on non-Indians who purchase gasoline or cigarettes to declare purchases on their state income tax.
The state tried to impose the law back in 1997, but the Seneca's protested, setting fires that closed a section of the Thruway near Irving. The law never went into effect.
Last week, the Seneca's attempted put up signs along the Thruway, but the state Thruway Authority took them down.
State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno says it's "unfortunate that the Indians are talking about fighting instead of paying." But Armstrong says he's "disappointed" that Bruno would try to distract the public with an ill-informed statement.
Armstrong says he can't predict future actions, but right now the educational campaign will continue.