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There's that, and I think that any state that tried to pull a "Customs" check, with an "Import Tax" would be slapped down pretty darn hard by the feds, since it is a power enumerated to the feds, and the feds alone...

Also, what is REALLY cracking me up is the fact that all Pataki will do with this venture is put non-indian people out of work. Among the mohawk (my people) in New York, there are quite a large number of non-indians who hold jobs in stores, professional positions working for the gov't etc... who would be put out of work by this taxation attempt. That Pataki - smart guy.

Pataki doesn't care. They had a saying during Prohibition, that it was supported by Baptists and Bootleggers. Well the same with the anti-tobacco crusades of today being supported by Crusaders and Crooks. There are those that believe they are doing the Lord's work for society and those who are just trying to capitalize on transfer of wealth during the chaos.

Now they are after barowners with the ban. The goal is similar to Prohibition, force more out of business. MADD mothers and other crusaders got DUI laws BAC levels down to .08. Before long having a single beer will constitute being too intoxicated for driving. I can go on and on, but I'm sure you have other things to be concerned about.

Great link, BTW. Very interesting.

"There's that, and I think that any state that tried to pull a "Customs" check, with an "Import Tax" would be slapped down pretty darn hard by the feds, since it is a power enumerated to the feds, and the feds alone...

Yes, that's what I meant. I didn't see the person I replied to specifically specified a "state" run customs checkpoint.

Even if someone brought in more than the duty free allotment, I believe they have the option of paying the duty on the excess (which is usually more than if they were imported wholesale) or having the product confiscated. Even if they pay the duty, I don't think the state where the passenger arrives in the US gets to slap a state tax on the product. If the person is a resident of that state or any other, they're supposed to voluntarily declare and pay the state tax to the state of their residence. Many people are getting hunted down by the taxmen of various states with obscenely high taxes for buying cigs over the internet. One guy from NJ posted the bill he received on the internet with transcripts from his case in tax court. NJ actually imposes the excise tax first and then imposes a sales tax calculated as a percentage of the total amount TO INCLUDE the excise tax. Residents are actually paying taxes on taxes.