Idaho House passes Girl Scouts cookie tax exemption

BOISE – The Idaho House has voted 59-11 in favor of removing the state’s 6 percent sales tax from Girl Scout cookies. Idaho is one of just two states – the other is Hawaii – that still taxes the annual cookie sales. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain fate. The Senate tax committee has been blocking new tax exemptions. Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, the bill’s lead sponsor, said if the state stops taking 22 cents from every $3.75 box of cookies, more money can go to scholarships and Girl Scout programs. He said only a quarter of the price covers the cost of the cookies; the rest of the sum that’s being taxed is for Girl Scout programs. Five North Idaho representatives were among the 11 opposing the bill in the House: Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens; Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton; Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d’Alene; Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow; and John Rusche, D-Lewiston.