Post by Okwes on Jul 24, 2007 9:08:16 GMT -5
Tribe threatens to tax agriculture products if Idaho collects gas tax
BOISE (AP) — The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have passed a resolution to begin taxing agricultural products raised by non-Indian farmers on their reservation, if Idaho taxes tribal fuel sales without first negotiating an agreement with the tribes.
The resolution marks the latest move in an ongoing dispute between the two sides over how to divide $3.5 million in annual revenue from gas sold on reservations.
Idaho wants it to pay for roadwork on highways used by cars and trucks that fill up at reservation stations, then drive outside reservation boundaries. The tribes say they need the taxes like any other government, to pay for roads and schools.
The House voted 49-18 Thursday for a bill to begin taxing gas sold on reservations, unless the tribes reach an agreement with the state by Dec. 1 on how to divvy up the money.
In anticipation of that vote, the tribes approved their own resolution last week to tax agricultural products raised by non-Indian farmers on the Fort Hall reservation, which lies at the heart of southeastern Idaho’s potato country.
ADVERTISEMENT
The reservation includes about 90,000 acres leased to non-Indian farmers, who produce $150 million worth of agricultural products each year.
‘‘It’s mostly potatoes,’’ Gary Gould, the tribe’s lobbyist in Boise, told The Spokesman-Review for a story Friday. ‘‘Their resolution indicated they will renegotiate leases to cover any loss of revenue from fuel tax.’’
Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, called the tribes’ decision regrettable.
But he said attempts by the state to enforce the gas tax without negotiations are equally as regrettable.
‘‘They were negotiating in good faith, and I just think all of that is lost on the House,’’ said Jorgenson, who is chairman of the Idaho Indian Affairs Council.
Currently, the tribes charge their own gas tax on reservation sales. A year ago, lawmakers held off on legislation designed to force the issue in favor of allowing negotiations.
Gov. C.L. ‘‘Butch’’ Otter already has begun negotiations with the tribes, picking up from where former Gov. Jim Risch left off in November.
Past attempts by the state to impose that tax on reservation sales all have failed in court on constitutional grounds, because the state can’t tax another sovereign nation.
But House Transportation Chairwoman Joan Wood, R-Rigby, told the House that a new U.S. Supreme Court decision in a Kansas case ‘‘puts us on firm ground’’ to impose the tax.
‘‘The tribes promised that they would negotiate with the governor,’’ she said. ‘‘That has not happened.’’
BOISE (AP) — The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have passed a resolution to begin taxing agricultural products raised by non-Indian farmers on their reservation, if Idaho taxes tribal fuel sales without first negotiating an agreement with the tribes.
The resolution marks the latest move in an ongoing dispute between the two sides over how to divide $3.5 million in annual revenue from gas sold on reservations.
Idaho wants it to pay for roadwork on highways used by cars and trucks that fill up at reservation stations, then drive outside reservation boundaries. The tribes say they need the taxes like any other government, to pay for roads and schools.
The House voted 49-18 Thursday for a bill to begin taxing gas sold on reservations, unless the tribes reach an agreement with the state by Dec. 1 on how to divvy up the money.
In anticipation of that vote, the tribes approved their own resolution last week to tax agricultural products raised by non-Indian farmers on the Fort Hall reservation, which lies at the heart of southeastern Idaho’s potato country.
ADVERTISEMENT
The reservation includes about 90,000 acres leased to non-Indian farmers, who produce $150 million worth of agricultural products each year.
‘‘It’s mostly potatoes,’’ Gary Gould, the tribe’s lobbyist in Boise, told The Spokesman-Review for a story Friday. ‘‘Their resolution indicated they will renegotiate leases to cover any loss of revenue from fuel tax.’’
Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, called the tribes’ decision regrettable.
But he said attempts by the state to enforce the gas tax without negotiations are equally as regrettable.
‘‘They were negotiating in good faith, and I just think all of that is lost on the House,’’ said Jorgenson, who is chairman of the Idaho Indian Affairs Council.
Currently, the tribes charge their own gas tax on reservation sales. A year ago, lawmakers held off on legislation designed to force the issue in favor of allowing negotiations.
Gov. C.L. ‘‘Butch’’ Otter already has begun negotiations with the tribes, picking up from where former Gov. Jim Risch left off in November.
Past attempts by the state to impose that tax on reservation sales all have failed in court on constitutional grounds, because the state can’t tax another sovereign nation.
But House Transportation Chairwoman Joan Wood, R-Rigby, told the House that a new U.S. Supreme Court decision in a Kansas case ‘‘puts us on firm ground’’ to impose the tax.
‘‘The tribes promised that they would negotiate with the governor,’’ she said. ‘‘That has not happened.’’