Idaho legislators can certainly come up with more than their share of home-grown and ill-conceived ideas. The last thing they need to do is import ideas from — egads! — California. Nevertheless, a group of lawmakers wants to bring a little bit of California into Idaho tax law. They are pushing a constitutional amendment that would require any future tax and fee increases to receive two-thirds support from the Legislature. The co-sponsors include a list of Treasure Valley Republicans: House Majority Leader Mike Moyle of Star (pictured); Rep. Marv Hagedorn of Meridian; Rep. Steven Thayn of Emmett; and Rep. Robert Schaefer of Nampa. (Resident House non-taxpayer Phil Hart of Hayden is on board, but what else would you expect?) The Two-Thirds Gang argues that these amendments, on the books in California and 15 other states, “help keep spending down and protect taxpayers from additional financial burdens”/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Should tax increases in Idaho require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature for passage?