This is nuts, if true. If states don't have federal authority to block interstate commerce, then what Spitzer is doing is unconstitutional. State and local officials can be prevented from enforcing these sorts of unconstitutional laws via suits in federal court, can't they? Are there any such suits in the works that you know of? And where the heck is Congress on this anyway?
From the article:
His office has also recently begun negotiations with credit card companies to block transactions of online cigarettes. These efforts were given added push recently as local officials from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives met with credit card executives to alert them to the various ways in which these transactions are illegal.
What various ways are the transactions illegal? I don't follow this subject much, so pardon my ignorance.
I'm about to read your link now. Thanks.
Ease off on Congress my lady, for after the strain of voting themselves a pay raise, nostrils have to be picked.