Idaho lawmaker: Make it even tougher to hike taxes
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Conservative lawmakers are pushing a constitutional amendment to require fee or tax hikes passed by the Legislature to garner two-thirds support.
Sen. Steve Vick of Dalton Gardens aims to provide new safeguards against higher taxes and fees.
The Republican wants Idaho to follow some 16 other states that have adopted this supermajority requirement.
The House State Affairs panel on Thursday agreed to consider it.
Idaho's Republican-controlled Legislature usually has opted to cut budgets, rather than hike tax revenue, to avoid deficits.
But in rare instances, lawmakers have narrowly approved tax increases, including in 2003 to shore up public schools.
That year, a temporary 1 percent sales tax hike passed 37-32 in the House and 19-16 in the Senate, meaning it would have failed had Vick's amendment had been in place.
Sen. Steve Vick of Dalton Gardens aims to provide new safeguards against higher taxes and fees.
The Republican wants Idaho to follow some 16 other states that have adopted this supermajority requirement.
The House State Affairs panel on Thursday agreed to consider it.
Idaho's Republican-controlled Legislature usually has opted to cut budgets, rather than hike tax revenue, to avoid deficits.
But in rare instances, lawmakers have narrowly approved tax increases, including in 2003 to shore up public schools.
That year, a temporary 1 percent sales tax hike passed 37-32 in the House and 19-16 in the Senate, meaning it would have failed had Vick's amendment had been in place.
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