On The Record Highlights From The Past Week In The Idaho Legislature

They said it

“That’s hogwash, there’s nothing complicated about any tax.” - Rep. Jim Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint, on the argument that allowing local government taxing authority would be too complicated. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee killed his bill; it would have allowed local non-property taxes if a majority of voters favored them.

Votes

Here are highlights of North Idaho lawmakers’ votes in the past week:

One for the Gov.: Gov. Phil Batt’s $40 million property tax relief bill won final passage in the Senate, 24-11, after a lengthy debate. The bill also limits local government budget increases to 3 percent per year. Voting for the bill were Republican Sens. Clyde Boatright and Gordon Crow. Voting against were Democrats Mary Lou Reed, Marguerite McLaughlin and Tim Tucker.

No mandates: SB1003, a bill allowing local governments to ignore future unfunded state mandates, passed 28-7 in the Senate and now heads to the House. Northern senators voting in favor were Republicans Boatright and Crow. Voting against were Democrats Reed, McLaughlin and Tucker.

Pretty sight?: HB111 would require local government to pay landowners if part of their land is affected by zoning designed to protect views. Voting in favor were Republican Reps. Jeff Alltus, Tom Dorr, Hilde Kellogg, Wayne Meyer and Don Pischner and Democrats Charles Cuddy, June Judd and Marvin Vandenberg. Opposing the bill were Democrats Carol Pietsch and Jim Stoicheff. xxxx