LewTrib: Second Dems jobs bill shot down without a hearing

A second Democratic jobs bill was shot down today without even a public hearing, reports Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence at his Political Theater blog ; you can read his full post here . Spence reports that the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning voted 11-6 to return the bill to its sponsor, House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, rather than introduce it; the bill would have created a $500 “finder’s fee” tax credit incentive for businesses that persuade their suppliers or partners to relocate to Idaho.

Three Republicans joined the committee’s three Democrats in backing introducing the bill; they were outvoted. Last week, the House Business Committee voted against introducing another bill from Rusche that would have used state bonding authority to create a revolving loan fund for small businesses; both measures are part of legislative Democrats’ “IJOBS 2.0” package of legislation this year aimed at creating jobs in the state.