Seneca Nation Calls On New York State Leadership To Fix State Economic Problems

Mass Exodus of State Population Costing Billions in Lost Tax Revenue

CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Seneca Nation of Indians
President Barry E. Snyder, Sr. today cited a just-released report from a New
York City-based think tank which found more than 1.5 million state residents
migrated to other states from 2000 to 2008, the largest exodus of any state in
the nation.

The Manhattan Institute's Empire Center for New York State Policy blamed high
tax rates as the primary driver for migration by eight percent of the state's
population. During the 1990s, New York lost 1.7 million people to other
states. In 2006-07 alone, the migration flow out of New York drained $4.3
billion in taxpayer income from the state.

The population loss report comes as New York State is facing a projected $3.2
billion deficit and some state lawmakers have renewed efforts to collect taxes
on Native American tobacco sales to help plug the impending budget gap.

"The State is trying to solve its budget problems on our backs, when the real
problem is not bootlegging or fewer smokers, but FEWER NEW YORKERS," President
Snyder said.

"We find it ironic that the State doesn't complain when we create economic
development opportunities that generate thousands of good paying jobs for its
residents and write them checks for millions of dollars in gaming revenue. The
Seneca Nation is one economic bright spot that New York State has. Instead of
trying to continually break us down, they should be trying to figure out new
ways to work together."

In testimony before the State Senate Committee on Investigations and
Government Operations on Oct. 27 regarding potential sales tax collections,
the Seneca Nation noted it has contributed more than $1.1 billion to the State
economy via its tobacco, motor fuel and gaming industries.

The Nation has grown to become the fifth largest employer in Western New York,
providing jobs for some 6,300 persons through its government, gaming and
hospitality, gasoline and tobacco retailing and emerging private sector
ventures. Hundreds of those jobs are held by non-Senecas.

The Nation's tobacco and motor fuel business segment, which generated an
estimated $313 million for the Nation in 2007, contributed nearly $200 million
in spin-off dollars to the State economy.

"State lawmakers should be focused on fixing New York's real problems:
overspending, bloated government, high tax rates and lack of economic
development investment," President Snyder said. "Instead, they are wasting
taxpayer time and money by looking for ways to break federal treaties which
protect the rights of the Seneca Nation and other tribes within New York
State."

The Empire Center report, released Oct. 28, found New York lost more residents
between 2000 and 2008 than any other state. The departures have perilous
budget consequences, since they tend to include residents who are better off
than those arriving.

The report concluded New York's state and local tax burdens, perennially
ranked among the heaviest in the country, are the key culprit in the "I Leave
New York" trend among middle-class residents.

Taxes aside, likely explanations differ regionally, according to the study.
Downstate residents face high taxes and housing costs rated among the most
"severely unaffordable" in the world. Land-use regulations in downstate New
York also tend to inhibit growth. In upstate New York, housing is relatively
inexpensive but even more heavily taxed, and new economic opportunities have
been scarce.

Media Contact:
Sue Asquith - 716-842-2222 ext. 324
sasquith@traverscollins.com
Travers Collins & Company

SOURCE Seneca Nation of Indians

Sue Asquith, Travers Collins & Company, +1-716-842-2222 ext. 324,
sasquith@traverscollins.com