Senate committee shoots down income tax reduction, grocery tax credit increase

The latest salvo in this year’s House-Senate showdown on taxes was over almost before it began.

The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee shot down House Bill 380, a $27.8 million package to reduce income taxes and increase the grocery tax credit, Idaho EdNews reported.

The bill passed the House on Feb. 3, and has been parked in Senate committee since then. When it came up March 17, a motion to send the bill to the Senate floor died for lack of support. When that happened, the bill was held for the year.

That might not be the last word on taxes, though. In the week of March 7, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee sent an Internet sales tax bill to the House floor for amendment. At the time, House Majority Leader Mike Moyle said he would look to amend the bill to fold in tax cuts.

Moyle, R-Star, sponsored HB 380.