It was looking like two major issues – amendments to the grocery tax credit bill in the Senate, and debate on a big property tax break for business in the House – were shaping up to happen at the same time today, but now neither one apparently is going to be taken up today.

The Senate won’t be going to its amending order, the 14th Order, until “deep into the week,” said Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls. That’s where HB 81, the grocery tax credit increase, is sitting, awaiting amendments. “It’s going to take some time to draft amendments,” Davis said. “I haven’t the foggiest idea yet where the Senate wants to go on it.”

In the House, HB 245, IACI-sponsored legislation to phase in a $100 million property tax break for business, is on the 3rd Reading calendar, which is where bills get debated and voted on, but it’s way down on the calendar. “I just don’t think we’re going to get there today,” said House Speaker Lawerence Denney. Denney said he’s a little anxious to see the Senate do whatever it’s going to do on the grocery tax bill. “I wish they would get it up and do something with it,” he said. “I would like to know what we’re going to do with that before we do the personal property tax bill.”

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