Oneida’s React To Upcoming Announcement To Enforce Excise Tax On Cigarettes

Utica, NY (WIBX) - The Oneida Indian Nation released a statement regarding Governor Cuomo's announcement to enforce the state's excise taxes on cigarettes. In the statement, Director of Media Relations, Mark Emery said, "We were contacted today by the Governor's office advising us on their announcement regarding the enforcement of state excise taxes on cigarettes. As part of that call, we confirmed with the Governor's office that the enforcement does not include cigarettes manufactured and sold on reservation land, as that activity is protected by federal law. We further confirmed with the Governor's office that, for the purposes of state enforcement, the locations where the Oneida Indian Nation currently sells and manufacturers its cigarettes - SavOn convenience stores, Turning Stone Resort and our manufacturing plant - are considered within the boundaries of the Oneida Indian Nation's federally recognized reservation and therefore are not affected by this enforcement."

So far, the Governor Andrew Cuomo's office has not released the official announcement to enforce the law.