"Gristedes makes a good point in a lawsuit it filed yesterday, nudging Albany to make vendors on Indian reservations pay cigarette taxes: Giving the Indians a free ride on the taxes is not only unfair to other retailers - it's also illegal.

Gov. Pataki decided to ignore that law, telling Indian shopowners they needn't bother.

Pataki has no right to discriminate in favor of the tribes - even if he fears riots like those seen when the state tried to collect taxes on reservations in the '90s.

If Albany won't make tribes pay, it shouldn't make anyone else pay, either. Which raises a better idea for leveling the playing field: Just scrap the tax altogether."

Get the Story:
Editorial: THE INDIAN EXEMPTION (The New York Post 3/21)

Related Stories:
Battle brewing over tobacco taxes in New York (3/20)
Seneca Nation criticizes tobacco shipment bill (03/13)
New York won't collect sales taxes on reservations (02/24)
Group pushes Pataki to collect reservation taxes (2/16)
Pataki to delay collection of cigarette taxes (01/19)
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe won't enter tobacco deal (12/07)
Pataki shifts stance on reservation taxation (02/24)
Pataki cites sovereignty in veto of Indian tax bill (11/16)
Pataki expected to veto Indian tax legislation (11/12)
Convenience stores blame revenue loss on Indians (05/25)
Seneca Nation commissions study on state tax plan (05/12)
New York lawmakers press state taxation on tribes (04/28)
Pataki wants to delay Indian taxation indefinitely (02/11)
Top N.Y. lawmaker rejects call to delay Indian tax (01/29)
Pataki calls for delay in state taxation plan (01/22)
Poll shows N.Y. residents oppose state tax plan (12/09)
N.Y. delays implementation of Indian tax rules (11/10)
Seneca Nation leaders lobby against tax effort (11/7)
Seneca Nation plans lawsuit over state tax plan (11/6)
Seneca Nation launches ad campaign against taxes (10/28)
Oneida Nation near deal with state on taxation (10/23)
Mohawk Tribe protesting state's taxation plan (09/18)
N.Y. tribes opposing state plan to collect tax (9/16)