Idaho House Advances Bill to Lower Tax Rate

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A plan to snip Idaho income tax by $126 million over the next six years passed the House over objections that the state can't afford to lose that much revenue for the general fund. The bill seeks to drop rates in all brackets from the current 7.4 percent to 6.8 percent, starting with a .1 percent cut in January. Republican Rep. Mike Moyle, from Star, says that could make the state more attractive to businesses and put Idaho more in line with neighboring  states. Montana has an income tax rate of 6.9 percent and no sales tax. But opponents say Idaho shouldn't cut that much money out of its budget when issues like education are still underfunded. The bill will now travel to the Senate.