Native American retailers taxed

Some of the poorest areas in the state of New York are on American Indian reservations. But now the state is going to start collecting sales taxes there.

This new tax probably isn't constitutional, of course, but who's still counting?

The Empire State is also home to major banks that received a windfall at taxpayer expense in the bailout debacle. I know taxes have to be paid somewhere to keep the state's economy moving (especially after Wacky Pataki's mismanagement), but did you ever think that maybe the state ought to shift the tax burden to the banks that got the bailout, instead of to the state's poorest regions?

Let's look at the facts here: Banks got a bailout. Banks have almost no regulations. People have regulations on what they do; banks seldom do. Banks received a handout that far exceeds anything that any individual in America has ever gotten. In fact, the total bailout was probably worth more than has been spent on programs for the poor over the past 75 years.

Maybe New York ought to step up to the plate and tell the banks, "Hey, we're taxing your bailout money."

(Source: http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/9699/gov-paterson-to-sign-the-indian-tax-bill)