Yakama Nation sued over tobacco tax compact

Thursday, January 17, 2008  

A business owner has sued the Yakama Nation of Washington in tribal court over a tobacco tax compact with the state.

Kip Richard Ramsey, the part owner of a tobacco manufacturing and sales company, says the compact violates the Yakama Treaty of 1855. He cited a recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that said the state can't interfere with tribal commerce.

"Now, why all of a sudden are we getting involved with the state of Washington about creating a tax on tribal cigarettes when it's not required by the federal government?" Ramsey told The Yakima Herald-Republic.

Ramsey wants the tribal court to bar the tribe from implementing the compact. The agreement requires the tribe to slowly raise its tobacco tax to a rate comparable, but lower, to the state's rate.

Ramsey was the defendant in another successful state tax challenge, though he lost a federal tax case a few years back.

Get the Story:
Tobacco tax issue smolders (The Yakima Herald-Republic 1/17)

Treaty Decision:
US v. Smiskin (May 18, 2007)

Editorial: Yakama cigarette deal good for all (12/19)
Yakama treaty protects smokeshop owners from prosecution (5/21)
State to terminate Yakama cigarette compact (2/9)
Judge hears case against tribal tobacco retailers (11/15)
Court to hear Yakama tobacco smuggling case (10/17)
Court: Tribal members must pay federal tax (9/12)