Cherokee Nation tribal councilors Monday approved a resolution that will rescind taxes charged by the tribe to some smoke shops.

The measure, which received unanimous approval, will affect smoke shops 20 miles or more from state borders.

“The smoke shops owners have been having problems since the tribe received negative results from arbitration with the state,” said District 1 Councilor Bill John Baker. “By rescinding the tax charged to smoke shops that are 20 miles or more from state borders, this will give them some breathing room until the issue is resolved.”

Baker pointed out the affected smoke shops pay higher taxes than those near state borders, which pay less tax to draw customers over state lines to buy tobacco.

At least two smoke local smoke shops, Cherokee Tobacco and Willy & Billy’s, will benefit from the decision. Both operations were recently forced to raise prices substantially as a result of the arbitration decision.

During his state of the nation address, Principal Chief Chad Smith updated citizens on the status of the Freedmen case pending in federal court. According to Smith, the case should be heard later this summer. He also commended Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama for refusing to agree with the Congressional Black Caucus in withholding federal housing funds until the tribe includes Freedmen as citizens.

In an interview with The Hill newspaper in Washington, D.C., Obama said discrimination is intolerable, but he cannot support efforts to undermine the legal process the tribe is already pursuing.

“As it stands, the rights of the Cherokee Freedmen are not being abrogated because there is an injunction in place that ensures the Freedmen’s rights to programs during the pendency of the litigation,” Obama told The Hill. “I do not support efforts to undermine these legal processes and impose a congressional solution. Tribes have a right to be self-governing and we need to respect that, even if we disagree, which I do in this case.”

Smith said he respected Obama for his forthrightness.

“He may not agree with us on the issue, but supports our sovereignty,” said Smith. “I hope the balance of Congress follows the lead of Sen. Barack Obama.”

Smith recognized a number of students from Sequoyah High School who have received Gates Millennium Scholarships. According to the school’s college prep adviser, each recipient will receive $100,000 toward their education. Students are Cody Poe, Colton Holmes, Loren Hammer, Cassie Smith, Anthony Beaver, Feather Smith, Alisa Riddle and Raylee Conrad.

Other action

In other business, councilors approved measures:

• Authorizing the submission of a special grant application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a housing preservation grant.