After every delay possible – including the forced reading of much of the 29-page bill – the Senate has finally begun debating the tax reform bill – and it’s twelve and a half hours after this one-day special session started this morning.
Senators have been chewing over a protest by Democrats about the nature of the narrow call for the special session. Earlier, in the Senate Local Government & Tax Committee, Sen. David Langhorst, D-Boise, said the lack of consideration for other property tax relief bills “makes…
The Senate’s Tax Committee has voted 6-3 in favor of Gov. Jim Risch’s plan to cut property taxes and raise the sales tax, sending it to the full Senate for final passage. The committee’s vote came after a 90-minute hearing in the Gold Room, the…
Senate Tax Chairman Hal Bunderson, R-Meridian, has scheduled a 90-minute hearing on the tax reform legislation, to begin shortly in the Gold Room on the 4th floor, the capitol’s largest hearing room. He has set strict time limits for committee discussion, weighing the pros and…
Rep. Bill Sali, R-Kuna, who’s running for Congress, just spoke out in favor of the governor’s tax bill on the House floor. The bill lowers property taxes and raises the sales tax. “This is not exactly the way I would do it,” Sali said. “There…
The House debate on the tax reform plan is still going – and going. To listen in live, go to www.idahoptv.org. Among the highlights so far:Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene, said, “It would be politically expedient for me to vote yes – it would probably…
Jerry Brady, Democratic candidate for governor, was smiling in the shade outside the state Capitol at the lunch hour today, as Ada County Democrats held a “Pork for the People” luncheon in protest of the tax legislation being enacted in today’s special session. “Pork to…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has just voted 13-6 in favor of Gov. Jim Risch’s tax reform bill. Those voting against were Reps. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls; Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls; and Democratic Reps. Nicole LeFavour, Wendy Jaquet, George Sayler and Elmer Martinez. All…
It was well after 8 a.m. by the time the House finally got rolling this morning – the House chaplain got stuck in traffic – but nevertheless, Speaker Bruce Newcomb started off the day with, “The hour of 8 a.m. having arrived…” Both houses went…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
