House Rev & Tax Chairman Gary Collins, R-Nampa, hasn’t set a date yet for a print hearing on the bill to remove Idaho’s sales tax from Girl Scout cookies, which would allow the bill to be introduced.  He said he’s worried about the state budget being tight next year.

“I’m not saying that the Girl Scout cookies isn’t a good cause and all that, but there are a lot of good causes out there,” Collins said. His committee already has approved a sales tax exemption this session for anti-abortion pregnancy resource centers; that bill has passed the full House. But Collins noted its estimated fiscal impact was only $10,000 a year, compared to the $140,000 fiscal impact of the Girl Scout bill.

Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, the bill’s lead sponsor, said, “I honestly did not know, along with most of my colleagues … that we were taxing the cookies the way we are.” He said, “It’s more than worthy to have a conversation on. I would like to see it passed and signed into law.”

Collins said, “I’m sympathetic with what they’re talking about. I’m just weighing it.” You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.