Seneca Nation Mailer Focuses on Local Senate Races – Senecas List Political Friends and Foes

CATTARAUGUS, NY —  The Seneca Nation weighed in on the mainstream political process like never before, with a “report card” mailer that specifically listed those candidates with strong voting records that have made a difference to the Seneca.  (To view the mailer in PDF format please Click Here)

The Seneca mailer specifically looked at the local Senate races and identified several “friends” and those they considered having “excellent voting records” on matters of concern to the Nation. The Seneca Nation gave good marks to senators who have come out publically supporting them such as Republican Senators Cathy Young, George Maziarz, and Michael Ranzenhofer, as well as Assemblyman Jack Quinn III and Democrat Assemblyman Mark Schroeder.  The Seneca also gave good marks to Democratic candidate Tim Kennedy who met with Seneca officials and expressed his support of the Seneca Nation and honor its treaties.

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Seneca Nation Makes Significant Contribution to State Rebublicans

CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, NY —  Members of the Seneca Nation Council presented Republican leaders of the New York State Senate last week with political contributions totaling $250,000.  State Senate Minority leader Senator Dean Skelos came to Western New York to accept three major political contributions in support of the NYS State Senate Republican Campaign Committee and the NYS Republican Party. Seneca Nation Foreign Relations Committee members met with Senators Skelos, George Maziarz, Cathy Young, Michael Ranzenhofer, and Assemblyman Jack Quinn in Cheektowaga to express their support.

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Seneca Nation of Indians Applauds New York State Court of Appeals Ruling on Legality to Tribal Tobacco Sales

The Seneca Nation of Indians applauds Tuesday’s ruling by the New York State Court of Appeals which allows two Cayuga Nation convenience stores to continue selling tax-free cigarettes to non-Native Americans.

In its 4-3 ruling, the state’s highest court rejected prosecutors’ cases against two Cayuga-run stores in Central New York.  In November 2008, police raided stores in Cayuga and Seneca counties, confiscating tobacco products on the premise the nation-owned businesses were required to charge sales tax on products to non-Indians.

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Seneca Nation of Indians Accuses President Barack Obama of Deliberately Betraying Native Americans by Signing the PACT Act

The measure, which bans distribution of tobacco products via U.S. Mail, will result in the loss of some 3,000 jobs in Western New York tied to the Seneca tobacco industry.

Seneca Nation President Barry E. Snyder Sr. called today’s signing of the PACT (Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking) Act a “deliberate betrayal” of all Native Americans.

“The President of the United States invited Native American leaders to Washington D.C. in November and looked us in the eye as a sign of good faith in his pledge to protect federal treaties,” Snyder said.  ”Now four months later he has betrayed that promise.”

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