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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Denney sidelines bill to open door to possible future online sales taxes

Even as dozens of Idahoans are testifying to JFAC that Idaho should look to more revenue - including, many have suggested, possibly taxing Internet sales - rather than cutting services to the disabled, House Speaker Lawerence Denney has single-handedly sidelined a bill that was moving along to open the door to future online taxes. Here's an account from the Associated Press:

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — House Speaker Lawerence Denney put the brakes on Idaho's effort to tax Internet sales — at least for now. The bill to join the nationwide push had been introduced Wednesday in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. The vote margin was a relatively comfortable 12-6 — especially considering virtually identical bills have died in the House for the last four years. Now, however, Denney has redirected the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee. This panel rarely meets, and can be used to rapidly scuttle bills that have fallen out of favor with leadership. It's possible the Internet tax measure could languish here for the rest of the session. Denney, no fan of any taxes, told The Associated Press on Thursday he took this extraordinary step because he wanted to examine what had changed in the debate over taxing Internet sales to merit reconsideration again this year.



Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.