News Digest:
Thursday, January 17, 2008 1:08 PM PST
IDAHO — House committee kills plan to join states in Internet tax push
BOISE (AP) — The House’s tax committee Wednesday dumped a renewed Idaho effort to eventually force Internet and catalog companies to collect sales taxes when they sell to out-of-state customers.
The Revenue and Taxation panel voted 10-8 to kill it.
A year ago, the plan was pushed by the Idaho Tax Commission because the state loses an estimated $50 million in annual revenue. It cleared the committee — in part because conservative northern Idaho Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden, had suffered a stroke and missed the meeting.
The bill then died on the House floor.
AG investigating police shooting of E. Idaho dog
IDAHO FALLS (AP) — The state attorney general’s office is deciding whether criminal charges will be filed against an eastern Idaho sheriff’s deputy accused of shooting a dog three times after first asking its owner to tie it to a tree.
That incident and questions surrounding two other Teton County sheriff’s deputies has led to some community leaders questioning the competence of the sheriff’s office.
Luna trims teacher pay plan to help win guv’s support
BOISE (AP) — Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna has scaled back his teacher pay proposal by 25 percent in a bid to win Gov. C.L. ‘‘Butch’’ Otter’s support.
Originally to cost $60 million, Luna says his plan will now cost about $46 million.
That’s after Otter didn’t support Luna’s proposal, instead backing a 5 percent, merit-based increase for teachers.
That would amount to about $45 million more for teachers and school staff — but only if the pay is based on performance. Luna says that’s dovetails with his new estimates.
He says, ‘‘We believe about 25 percent of teachers will participate in the first year.’’
Luna’s plan is controversial because the Idaho teacher’s union says it forces teachers to sacrifice job security for more money.
