TULSA, Okla. (AP) — State Treasurer Scott Meacham is expressing support for the idea of having one single compact rate for all American Indian tribes that sell cigarettes in Oklahoma.
Meacham says he is not bailing out on a multiple-stamp system, but it would be easier to enforce a single rate. He believes that would help Oklahoma move forward with cutting down on smoking while raising more money to benefit better health in the state.
Attorneys from the Oklahoma Tax Commission and tribal smoke shops have been working on an agreement that would limit the sales of low-tax cigarettes in the state.
The agreement would lift a restraining order and cut down on the number of cigarettes that can be sold with 6-cent tax stamps intended for use near the state's borders.
Smoke shops that aren't near a border must sell 86-cent stamps.
Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
