"Mayor Bloomberg thinks Gov. Pater son should don a cowboy hat and play sheriff -- if that's what it takes to collect cigarette taxes from Indian reservations.

Hey, whatever works.

Actually, any action would be progress.

"Get yourself a cowboy hat and a shotgun," Mayor Mike on Friday said he's told the gov. "If there's ever a great video, it's you standing in the middle of the New York State Thruway, saying, you know, 'Read my lips -- the law of the land is this, and we're going to enforce the law!' "

Hizzoner was referring to the violence that tribes have long threatened if any serious attempt is made to collect the tax.

In 1997, for instance, they forced state troopers to back off and even climbed atop a police cruiser in defiance. Since then, no governor has been willing to stand up to the tribes. Which makes it hard to reap expected cig-tax revenues."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Saddle up, Dave (The New York Post 8/16)

Relevant Documents:
ATF Letter on Tribal Consultation (May 19, 2010)

Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act:
H.R.1676 | S.1147

Related Stories:
< Judge won't continue injunction against tobacco trafficking law (8/13)
Editorial: New York tribes get more business by avoiding taxes (8/13)
State to return tobacco products and truck to Seneca retailer (8/12)
Tribal retailers see business boost after New York tobacco hike (8/11)
Seneca Nation business owner blasts state seizure of tobacco (8/10)
Reward doubled over derailment attempt on Seneca Nation land (07/23)
County lawmaker eyes support on tax free Seneca Nation tobacco (7/21)
Judge extends PACT Act restraining order for Seneca businesses (7/8)
Seneca Nation smoke shops shut down mail-order operations (6/30)
Seneca Nation smoke shop gets restraining order for PACT Act (6/29)
Seneca Nation defends tobacco sales on treaty anniversary (05/24)
ATF schedules tribal consultation on tobacco trafficking law (5/20)
Obama signs cigarette trafficking bill over tribal objections (4/1)
Seneca Nation asks Obama to veto cigarette mailing bill (03/19)
Cigarette trafficking bill sent to White House for review (3/18)
Editorial: PACT Act puts a halt to Internet tobacco sales (3/17)
Gov. David Paterson/2010/018814.asp">White House weighs stance on cigarette trafficking bill (3/16)
Seneca Nation blasts passage of cigarette trafficking bill (3/15)
Lance Morgan: PACT Act a hidden power grab for states (3/12)
Seneca Nation lobbies against cigarette trafficking bill (3/8)
New York governor proposes tobacco tax regulations (02/24)
Seneca Nation targets Sen. Gillibrand for tobacco bill (01/25)
Seneca Nation prepares for battle over cigarette taxes (1/20)
New York governor puts Indian tobacco tax in new budget (1/19)
Seneca Nation aims to defeat cigarette trafficking bill (01/12)