Legislation co-sponsored by Gov. Butch Otter, Senate Tax Chairman Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, cleared the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning and headed off to the full House, to boost an existing tax credit for donations to Idaho schools, libraries, and Idaho Public Television and also expand it to cover the state Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Developmental Disabilities Council, the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the State Independent Living Council. Otter said earlier that he's trying to drum up "voluntary" support of those agencies, as they face cuts in state funding. The measure, HB 630, would increase the credit to $500 for a single filer, from $100 now, and $1,000 for a couple, from $200 now. For corporate taxpayers, the maximum annual credit is increased to $5,000, from $1,000. This could bring in $10 million to agencies, while only cutting revenue $5 million, supporters said.

Otter also is scheduled to make a fundraising appearance Wednesday night on Idaho Public Television during the airing of the "Capitol of Light" documentary.

---

---