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Albany – Continuing their efforts to enact State law that would implementthe collection of sales taxes from Native-American owned businesses, State Senator Michael Nozzolio, Assemblyman Gary Finch and Assemblyman Brian Kolb today called on State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to immediately sendSenate bill 8146 to the Governor so the legislation can be signed into law.

Senate bill 8146, which was sponsored by Senator Nozzolio in the State Senate, received overwhelming bi-partisan support when it was adopted by both houses of the State legislature this year.  However, State Assembly Speaker Silver has yet to send Senate bill 8146 to Governor Paterson forhis review and decision on whether to sign the measure into New York Statelaw.

The State Assembly’s internal rules state that any legislation adoptedafter June 1st must be sent to the Governor within 45 days.   Since Senate bill 8146 was adopted by the State Senate on August 8th, the Assembly’sinaction in sending the legislation to the Governor is a direct violationof the Assembly’s own internal rules.

“Throughout my service in the Legislature, I have worked aggressively to ensure the collection of sales taxes on Native-American businesses toensure tax equality for all New York businesses,” said Senator Nozzolio.“For many years, these efforts have been met by strong opposition fromnumerous Governors who have been reluctant to enforce State law and collectthe sales taxes.”

“Once again, a New York State Governor, with the aid of Asssembly SpeakerSilver, is seeking to delay enacting this critical legislation into Statelaw.   My message to the Governor and the Assembly leader is clear: there can be no more delay.  The Assembly should immediately send the legislationto the Governor, in accordance with their own internal procedures, so that this measure can be signed into law,” continued Nozzolio.

Assemblyman Gary Finch said, “At a time when our State is in the midst of asevere fiscal crisis, it is critical that New York State begin to collect the $300- $400 million that is available in uncollected sales tax revenue from Native-American owned businesses.  I call upon the Governor to enactSenate bill 8146 into State law and help close the fiscal gap that New York State is facing.”

Assemblyman Brian Kolb said, “I call upon Speaker Silver to forward Assembly Bill # A.11258A, same as Senate Bill # S.8146B, to GovernorPaterson so he can take the appropriate action to sign this bill into law.  Assembly Bill #A.11258A provides the framework for certifying cigarettes sold in New York State arenot sold without the proper taxing procedures according to NYS law.  This legislation had overwhelming support in the Assembly, but Governor Paterson cannot act upon this bill until it is forwarded from the Assembly to the Executive Chamber.  It is unacceptable for this legislation to languish any longer.”

Enacting Senate bill 8146/Assembly bill 11258-A into State law andenforcing the collection of sales taxes from Native-American owned businesses would lead to an estimated increase in State tax revenue of $400 million a year.

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