Legislature Puts Tax Reduction Bill On Fast Track Panel Also Will Consider Contractor Licensing Today

The tracks are greased and the votes are lined up. It looks like the Idaho Legislature will put a $40 million property tax reduction bill on Gov. Phil Batt’s desk before the week is over.

The tax cut measure proposed by the new Republican governor breezed through the House with just 12 dissenting votes on Thursday. It’s the first item on today’s agenda for the Senate Local Government Committee, and Senate leaders expect it will come up for a final vote late in the week.

Besides cutting local property taxes by about $40 million statewide, or about 5 percent, the measure also imposes a 3 percent cap on local government budget growth from property tax collections.

Some of the dozen House members who voted against the bill tried to convince other lawmakers there are better ways to cut taxes. One of those, Rep. Doug Jones, R-Filer, maintains the Batt bill inevitably will lead to another school district lawsuit because it does nothing about the $700 million backlog of unmet school facility needs.

Some senators have issued statements objecting to the bill, but may find it hard to vote against the first major legislation from the first GOP governor in 24 years - especially after his rough first month in office.

The House State Affairs Committee could have its hands full on another proposal today. It’s contractor licensing - a subject that in the past has tied the Legislature up for weeks before the state’s first bill requiring contractors to be licensed died by a single vote in the House.

House members last week rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have required members to cast an affirmative vote before their pay and expenses could be increased.

This week they get another selfinterest bill. House Speaker Michael Simpson plans to ask the State Affairs Committee to introduce a bill to end the process of allowing legislators and other part-time state employees to qualify for state pensions as if they had full-time jobs. Batt opposes the practice.

State Affairs Chairman Ron Crane, R-Nampa, said the Simpson measure will be on the agenda some time during the week, but a definite date hasn’t been set yet.

Also in the House, the Education Committee will be on TV this week.

The panel plans two-way hearings via television on school-to-work programs across the state, including a session Friday night and another Saturday morning.

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee today will debate a proposed constitutional amendment from Rep. Jim Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint. It would limit yearly increases in property valuations for tax purposes to 4 percent unless the property is sold.

In the Senate, Attorney General Alan Lance says the state could save a substantial amount on legal expenses by consolidating all state legal services in his office. State Affairs will take up that bill today.

It also has a proposal on today’s agenda from Sen. Rod Beck, R-Boise. He wants to move Idaho’s quadrennial presidential primary from late May to February so the state will get more attention from presidential candidates.

Meanwhile, the House Resources and Conservation Committee introduced a proposed constitutional amendment last week that would forbid ordinances or initiatives aimed at regulating access to wildlife and natural resources.