Senators working on amendments to business tax incentive bill, House poised for EPA nullification debate

HB 546, state Commerce Director Jeff Sayer’s economic incentive legislation, is up for reconsideration in the Senate today after passing yesterday – but being pulled back after an Idaho Attorney General’s opinion raised questions about the bill’s constitutionality. The main problem identified is the discretion the measure offers to the state Department of Commerce to decide who gets how much under the new tax credits, with no appeal and no set standards.

Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, told the Senate this morning that the sponsors plan to ask to shift the bill to the Senate’s 14 ^th Order for amendments today. “Amendments have been prepared,” Davis said. The Senate will go into its amending order at some point today, possibly late this morning or early afternoon, Davis said. “It will depend on some time management.”

Meanwhile, the House is in session and has, at the top of its 3 ^rd Reading calendar, HB 473, the bill from Rep. Paul Shepherd, R-Riggins, attempting to nullify the EPA.