Idaho house committee cancels beer tax plan - Brief Article
AP--The Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Friday
extinguished its proposal to raise taxes on beer, wine
and soft drinks. After about an hour of testimony from
brewers, distributors, wine makers and restaurateurs, the
panel voted 18-1 against sending the bill to the House
floor.
A move by Democrats to amend the bill failed 5-14. Boise
brew pub owner Mike Fitzgerald told members that the tax
increase would hurt businesses and force layoffs. "The
last thing we do is raise prices. That just chases people
off," he said.
The bill would have raised the tax on a bottle of beer
from just over a penny to two cents.
Asked by lawmakers bow he would fix the budget problem,
Fitzgerald said he worked as a butcher on his family's
farm more most of his life. "I'm a strong proponent
of cutting," he said as the room erupted in laughter.
