MOBILE
A second Democratic jobs bill was shot down today without even a public hearing, reports Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence at his Political Theater blog; you can read his full post here. Spence reports that the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning voted 11-6 to return the bill to its sponsor, House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, rather than introduce it; the bill would have created a $500 “finder's fee” tax credit incentive for businesses that persuade their suppliers or partners to relocate to Idaho.
Three Republicans joined the committee's three Democrats in backing introducing the bill; they were outvoted. Last week, the House Business Committee voted against introducing another bill from Rusche that would have used state bonding authority to create a revolving loan fund for small businesses; both measures are part of legislative Democrats' “IJOBS 2.0” package of legislation this year aimed at creating jobs in the state.
LewTrib: Second Dems jobs bill shot down without a hearing
Feb. 13, 2012 12:43 p.m. - Updated: 12:46 p.m.
Rep. Rusche has a whole raft of bills he is authoring or sponsoring as minority leader that have no other purpose but to use as political fodder to shore up his sinking party.
Of course, this is just my opinion, for the record. Old game, new players.
If this is anything like last year, and I see nothing to think otherwise, the bills will be shot down one by one and then the Governor or majority party leadership will bring these same proposals forward next year. Where do you think Otter got the idea for IGEM? People on the committee had some good ideas. I don’t understand why they didn’t print the bill and then offer their ideas as ammendments.
Arpie calls it. Otter’s new found liking for a state insurance exchange follows Dem Candidate Allred’s suggesting it as the most effective way for Idaho to proceed under the new law and retain some control. But it matters not how good the idea is if it’s offered by a Democrat the Repubs will denigrate it and/or steal it within a year or two.
Same thing happening with the “evil Obamacare” as the R’s struggle to justify their opposition to it given the reality that it will actually be the solution to the black holes that have developed in county indigent budgets and the state emergency medical expense (CAT) fund.