TRANSCRIPT Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act Second Meeting : August 9, 2019 Part 2
TRANSCRIPT Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act Second Meeting : August 9, 2019 Part 2 Rep. Donna Bailey: So if I'm hearing you correctly, we really are just talking about real property taxes. Kaighn Smith (Penobscot Nation Legal Counsel ): Well, section three, paragraph three, if I may, would change the law, and would put the Tribes and their citizens on a par of other Tribes and citizens in the United States. Rep. Donna Bailey: Which.. Kaighn Smith: So, generally Rep. Donna Bailey: ... can you explain what that is? Kaighn Smith: Excuse me? Rep. Donna Bailey: What is that? Kaighn Smith: So generally speaking, when Tribal members generate revenue through their activities within Indian country, they are not subject to taxation. So it's on reservation activity that is generated pursuant to Tribal efforts. There's not a state tax imposed upon that income... Rep. Bailey: So, for example... And believe me, I'm just trying to understand, because taxation is so far from what my area of expertise is. Rep. Bailey: So, for example, if there's a store on an Indian reservation that sells goods, do they currently send sales tax to the State of Maine? Kaighn Smith: Yes, I believe so. Mark, you could chime in on that. I believe that's the case. Mark Chavaree (Penobscot Nation Legal Counsel): Yes, if it's a non-governmental activity. Rep. Bailey: Okay. And so this proposal is to eliminate that, for example, and any other sort of taxes like that. Kaighn Smith: Yes.
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