Tobacco deal a true compromise

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September 5, 2012

Tobacco deal a true compromise

Anonymous The Muskogee Phoenix Wed Sep 05, 2012, 11:42 PM CDT

— When the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the state of Oklahoma reached agreement on a tobacco compact, both sides won.

The agreement settled seven years of litigation and wrangling over the amount of taxes the tribe would pay the state on cartons of cigarettes.

There was no way for either side to come away with a complete victory in this battle.

The Creeks had to know that the state would not just go away. Once the state filed suit, there was no way they would completely back down.

And the state needs the tribes to be successful.

Native American tribes impact the state economy positively every day.

The tribes bring in tourists, create jobs and share some of that wealth with the communities around them.

Tribes have given money to local schools and helped build and improve roads.

The Creeks agreed to pay the state $11.5 million over the course of five years.

The Creeks also must pay the state $5.15 in tax for every 10-pack carton of cigarettes they sell.

The state wins — both monetarily in the settlement and in future tax receipts.

The tribe wins — by ending years of wrangling that kept the tribe from focusing on the future.

The state and the tribe need each other to succeed.

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