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Law
Osage Nation sues state over tobacco rules again


The Osage Nation filed a second lawsuit against the state of Oklahoma over emergency tobacco tax rules.

The tribe said the state broke the tobacco compact by imposing emergency rules on tribal-licensed shops. "The time to negotiate was before the rule was passed, not after," said chief Jim Gray.

The rules are meant to prevent tribal-licensed smoke shops from selling tobacco with lower tax stamps. The tribe is already in mediation over an earlier rule.

Separately, the Oklahoma House passed a bill to allow non-tribal shops to sell tobacco at a lower tax rate if they are within 25 miles of a tribal shop.

Get the Story:
Osage tribe sues state 2nd time (The Oklahoman 4/21)
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Bill pits tribal, nontribal stores (The Oklahoman 4/21)

Relevant Links:
Oklahoma Tax Commission - http://www.oktax.state.ok.us

Related Stories:
Oklahoma delays emergency tobacco tax rule (4/20)
Oklahoma tribes criticize emergency tobacco rule (4/10)
Tribal-owned tobacco shops exempt from rules (03/14)
Gover to mediate Osage Nation tobacco dispute (3/3)
Osage Nation wins arbitration request for tobacco tax (3/1)
Oklahoma tribal retailers subject to new tax rule (2/22)
Opinion: Unfair advantage for tribal smoke shops (2/20)
Oklahoma governor seeks to crack down on tribes (12/13)
Tribal tobacco collections fail to meet projections (12/12)
Editorial: Tribes skirting state tobacco tax law (11/28)
Oklahoma lacks authority to enforce tobacco pacts (11/18)
Oklahoma leaders say state relations are improving (10/31)
State threatens Oklahoma tribes over taxes (10/10)
State says Oklahoma tribes not paying enough taxes (09/13)
States not willing to credit tribes for sharing (12/17)
Delaware chief opposes tobacco tax hike in Okla. (03/03)
Okla. governor seeks big increase in tobacco tax (01/28)
Okla. Senate approves tribal gaming bill (2/19)
Sac and Fox Treasurer: Okla. governor insults tribes (02/05)