Idaho Lawmaker Spoke with Economist on Grocery Tax Shift

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — House Speaker Scott Bedke says he's met with Idaho's former chief economist over a proposal to shift $80 million from a grocery tax credit to individual and corporate income tax cuts.

Bedke, a Republican from Oakley, met with Mike Ferguson, the top economist at the state under six governors before retiring four years ago. Bedke's proposes to redirect money now given to Idaho families to offset sales tax they pay on groceries to income tax cuts, in hopes of making Idaho a more-attractive place for businesses to relocate.

According to Ferguson's numbers, the shift would mean, for example, a family of four earning more than $117,750 would see lower taxes. Meanwhile, those earning between $32,500 and $117,750 would see their taxes climb.