Internet sales tax bill dies

| February 15, 2011 7:35 AM

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Republicans in the Idaho House stamped out an effort to resurrect legislation to eventually tax Internet sales.

House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, tried to use a procedural move Tuesday on the House floor to give the bill a hearing after it was bottled up in special committee.

The move failed on a 15-54 vote.

The bill to join the nationwide push to tax Internet sales was introduced last month. But House Speaker Lawerence Denney quickly put the brakes on the legislation and shifted it to the House Ways and Means Committee, a place where Republican leadership sometimes moves measures they want to quickly scuttle.

Proponents of taxing Internet sales say it will generate more revenue for public education and level the playing field for traditional Main Street businesses.